A heated back-and-forth between NBA star Kevin Durant and the actor Michael Rapaport exploded into public view after the actor posted screenshots of direct messages in which the Brooklyn Nets forward appeared to use homophobic, misogynistic and profane language.
“I receive threats and disgusting messages DAILY, but never in my wildest dreams did I think (Kevin Durant) would be among them,” Rapaport wrote on Tuesday afternoon. “The (snake emoji) himself is now threatening me, bringing up my wife and wants to fight. This is supposed to be America’s sweetheart right?”
“Your wife doesn’t even respect your bitch ass,” Durant wrote.
The confrontation appeared to start when Rapaport criticized Durant’s post-game interview with TNT analyst Charles Barkley after Brooklyn’s season-opening victory over the Golden State Warriors in December.
Rapaport tweeted at the time: “KD seemed deeply in his feelings with the (TNT) crew after the game. DAMNIT he’s super sensitive about everything. Don’t do the interview.”
Durant responded by calling Rapaport a “bitch”, a “pussy”, a “pale pasty cum guzzling bitch” and a “piece of shit.”
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Some took to Twitter and called for Durant to be suspended and cancelled for his words.
The 32-year-old Durant appeared to defuse the situation in Rapaport’s Instagram comments, writing: “my bad I apologize”.
Durant might face some NBA discipline for his words in light of the league’s precedent for punishing anti-gay rhetoric. The late Kobe Bryant and LA Clippers guard Rajon Rondo were both fined for using homophobic slurs.
