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Charles Barkley is praised for honoring Jason Collins, the first openly gay NBA player, during an episode of 'Inside the NBA.' Barkley highlighted Collins' courage in a 'homophobic' world.
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Former NBA player Charles Barkley is receiving praise from social media users after honoring the late Jason Collins, the first openly gay big four athlete. Collins died at the age of 47 following an intense battle with brain cancer.
On an episode of âInside the NBA,â Charles Barkley, along with fellow basketball legends, honored Collins for living authentically despite living in a âhomophobicâ world.
Barkley paid his respects to Collins on a recent episode of the ESPN broadcast, saying he thought it was âamazingâ when the NBA player came out in 2013.
âTo put himself under the microscope and the scrutiny. He was a shining example, âDo you, man.â Anybody out there struggling with their sexuality, do you,â Barkley said.
According to several outlets, including ESPN, Collins passed away earlier this week after battling Stage 4 glioblastoma, a type of brain cancer.
Collins, who was drafted by the Houston Rockets in 2001 and later played for teams such as the Nets and Grizzlies, made headlines when he told Sports Illustrated, âIâm a 34-year-old NBA center. Iâm black. And Iâm gay.â
Charles Barkley praised Jason Collins for living authentically despite facing challenges in a 'homophobic' world.
Jason Collins is significant as the first openly gay athlete in the four major North American sports leagues, including the NBA.
Social media users expressed praise for Charles Barkley following his heartfelt comments honoring Jason Collins.
Barkley's remarks were made during a tribute to Jason Collins, who recently passed away after battling brain cancer.

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Speaking with his panel of co-hosts, including Los Angeles Lakers icon Shaquille OâNeal, Barkley said there are other professional athletes in major sports leagues who are gay.
However, he explained that most of them wonât come out because of societyâs âhomophobicâ mentality. âIf another guy did it, it would still be a big deal because we live in a homophobic society,â he said. And thatâs unfortunate. Anybody who thinks we ainât got a bunch of gay players in all sports, theyâre just stupid.â
According to Barkley, thereâs still much âanimosityâ toward the LGBTQ+ community, but he said that the negativity wonât stop people from being gay. âBut anybody that think him coming, I know a couple of other soccer players that came out, if you think there are not more gay players in the NFL, Major League Baseball and the NBA, youâre just stupid,â he said.
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This isnât the first time Barkley has shared his thoughts on the queer community. According to Them.Us, Barkley went viral in 2022 when he voiced his support for the transgender community.
âI want to say this: If youâre gay and transgender, I love you,â he said. âAnd if anybody gives you shit, you tell them Charles said âF-ck you!'â
Years before that, Barkley told CNN that he stood firmly against all forms of discrimination and bigotry. â⊠against whites, Hispanics, gays, lesbians, however you want to phrase it,â he said.
He went on to say that, as a public figure, itâs his responsibility to stand up for those who canât do it themselves.
And while some may believe there isnât homophobia lingering throughout professional sports, think again. BET reported in 2022 about retired athlete Tim Hardawayâs 2007 rant, in which he said he âhatesâ gay people.
âI donât like gay people. I donât like to be around gay people. I am homophobic. I donât like it. It shouldnât be in the worldâŠor in the United States,â he said.
Years later, he apologized for his actions, saying his upbringing in the church influenced his comments. âI was just taught differently. Donât talk to them, donât mess with them, leave them alone. I never tried to talk bad about them or do hateful stuff. It was just my upbringing in church,â he said.
Continuing, Hardaway said he was âwrongâ for what he said, acknowledging the pain queer people have endured. âI had to grow up and really do some soul-searching. What I said was just hurtful,â he added.
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On Reddit, users lauded Barkley for his kind words about gay athletes, with one calling him âsuch a good dude.â
Another user said Barkley deserves respect for speaking positively about the queer community as a Black man. âFor as progressive as we want the system to be, thereâs a huge demographic that is incredibly hypocritical,â they wrote.
Someone else added, âChuck is the best thing to ever come out of Auburn University. Love the dude.â
RIP Collins.
The Charles Barkley Praised Following Comments About âHomophobicâ People first appeared on The Blast