Last week, LA Laker basketball star Kobe Bryant was caught on video mouthing what was widely described as a “slur” against a referee who had slapped Bryant with a technical foul.
What did Bryant actually say? Well, if you read some of the Los Angeles Times’ coverage, you would know. If you watched sports news and talk shows on TV, you might have to go to YouTube and lip-read what Bryant said.
If you haven’t heard by now, Bryant used the f-word. Actually two different f-words, one a noun, the other a present participle. Curiously, it was the noun “faggot” that was deemed more offensive. Go just beneath the surface of this and other cases and all kinds of raw issues come bubbling up: race, gender, sports, homophobia, a culture of alpha male domination, and on and on.
In this week’s writing chat, I offered insight into how journalists use and misuse taboo language. You can watch a replay of the chat below and read a related essay I wrote here.
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