A gay couple was subjected to humiliation and homophobic abuse at an ice hockey game over the weekend when the arena announcer called their kiss-cam smooch “disgusting.”
David Simms, an executive and public announcer for the Sheffield Steelers, reacted to the couple’s kiss by saying: “That’s disgusting. Security, get rid of them.”
Simms took to BBC Radio Sheffield to respond to justify his comments: “Maybe I live in a different world. I can’t really see the offence I have caused.”
“But if people have been offend… people who know me know I don’t like to offend. I am truly sorry if I did do.”
“Unfortunately the world has moved on to a place that either I haven’t realized it’s got to or I am comfortable with.”
Hundred’s of angry fans took to Twitter to voice their disgust with the homophobic announcer:
“I am not homophobic, you have known me long enough. I haven’t got a bad bone in my body,” Simms later told The Star. “If the comments made anyone upset or offended anybody then of course I apologize completely.”
In response to the backlash, the Sheffield Steelers released a statement reiterating Simms’ apology:
“The club would like to put on record our sincere apology to any fans or members of the LGBT community who were offended by comments made by David Simms during the game on Saturday 4th March,” it read. “In no way did Mr. Simms intend what was said in a derogatory or offensive way. David Simms has personally apologized to fans on social media, the club, the EIHL and has been in touch with LGBT direct.”
h/t: Gay Times