Former NBA Player Makes Insensitive Remark About Down Syndrome
A former NBA player made an insensitive remark about Down syndrome on Instagram.
Gilbert Arenas, who last played professionally in China for the Shanghai Sharks in 2013, posted a photo on Thursday, in which he made several jokes about trying to get courtside seats to see Kobe Bryant’s last game in Los Angeles. Later in the post he took jabs at players Nick Young and Roy Hibbert, saying they look like they have Down syndrome and asking not to be seated next to them because he didn’t want to catch it.
In the post, Arenas jokingly asked the Lakers to sign him to a 10-day contract so he could have a seat for Bryant’s last game; then he went on to say, “dont (sic) sit me next to Nick or Hibbert, they Down syndrome looks like its (sic) catchable, not paying top dollar to catch what them two [expletives] look like they’ve got.”
Editor’s note: The following post contains NSFW language.
People responded to Arenas’ comment on Twitter:
When you are a jerk everyone waits for the fall #KanyeWest #gilbertarenas
— Amuro Black Eagles ???? (@DeadlywithPaper) February 16, 2016
Gilbert Arenas Jokes That Nick Young Has Down Syndrome: Not Funny, Zero Stars https://t.co/Zj98nhigRS
— Nick Young (@NickYoungNews) February 18, 2016
Gilbert Arenas making fun of people with Down syndrome…stay classy ?
— MIDDAY MEAG (@MeagyMeagOnAir) February 18, 2016
I never realized till recently how much of an ignorant clown #gilbertarenas is!!
— Danny Season – ATMLA (@dannyseason) February 18, 2016
We wanted to clear a few things up.
First of all, saying someone has Down syndrome is not an insult. Second, Down syndrome is a genetic condition; you cannot “catch it,” and it is not contagious.
To learn more about people with Down syndrome, you can check out these resources and organizations:
- National Down Syndrome Society
- Global Down Syndrome Foundation
- National Down Syndrome Congress
- Down Syndrome Association of Los Angeles
- Down Syndrome International
- Down Syndrome Association – U.K.
- Special Miracles
- Where Hope Grows
We also recommend a few of these bloggers in our Mighty community:
Image via Wikimedia Commons/Keith Allison
Melissa McGlensey is the former News Editor at The Mighty. Her writing can also be seen in Ms. Magazine, on the Ms.Magazine blog and in The Huffington Post’s Good News, Comedy and Impact sections. Melissa is also a New York City comedian who does sketch, improv and stand up. She is passionate about social justice, politics, Thai food, literature, disability rights and more. She is currently in a long-distance relationship with her cat, Sneakers, who lives in California. You can follow her on twitter at @OhHeyMeliss.
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