ESPN NBA analyst Chris Broussard left his employers on the defensive after making anti-gay comments on Monday afternoon.
Broussard was booked as a guest on “Outside the Lines” Monday to discuss the news that former Nets C Jason Collins had come out as gay. When asked about Collins’ Christianity, Broussard said he did not believe any gay individuals could be considered Christians, as their lifestyle was in “open rebellion to God and to Jesus Christ” (ESPN, 4/29).
Broussard’s full comments:
“Personally, I don’t believe that you can live an openly homosexual lifestyle. … If you’re openly living that type of lifestyle, then the Bible says ‘you know them by their fruits’ — it says that’s a sin. If you’re openly living in unrepentant sin, whatever it may be — not just homosexuality; adultery, fornication, pre-marital sex between heterosexuals, whatever it may be — I believe that’s walking in open rebellion to God and to Jesus Christ. So I would not characterize that person as a Christian, because I don’t believe the Bible would characterize them as a Christian.”
ESPN responded to Broussard’s comments in a statement late Monday night: “We regret that a respectful discussion of personal viewpoints became a distraction from today?s news. ESPN is fully committed to diversity and welcomes Jason Collins? announcement.”
With the departure last year of Ric Bucher, Broussard is arguably ESPN’s highest-profile NBA reporter. He served as an analyst for ESPN’s “NBA Countdown” pregame show last year before being replaced this season.
(ESPN; Broussard comments from Deadspin)
