Kevin Durant apologizes for breathtakingly offensive DM exchange with actor Michael Rapaport
Kevin Durant has never been known for being a peaceful presence on social media, but a contentious exchange with Michael Rapaport this week broke new ground for the Brooklyn Nets star.
Durant, who has been out since mid-February with a hamstring injury, apologized while speaking with reporters Thursday for the language in his Instagram direct messages.
"I'm sorry that people seen that language I used," Durant said. "That's not really what I want people to see and hear from me, but hopefully I can move past it and get back out on the floor."
Nets coach Steve Nash also addressed the matter, saying the organization had internal discussions about Durant's exchange, but declined to share specifics of the conversation according to ESPN's Malika Andrews.
Here's why Kevin Durant was feuding with Michael Rapaport
The exchange in question began all the way back in December, when Rapaport, a longtime television actor currently attempting a second act as a professional sports opinion-haver, tweeted this:
KD seemed deeply in his feelings with the @NBAonTNT crew after the game.
DAMNIT he’s super sensitive about everything.
Don’t do the interview— MichaelRapaport (@MichaelRapaport) December 23, 2020
The tweet was in reference to this interview, in which Durant spoke with TNT's "Inside the NBA" crew while looking down at the floor and giving brief answers.
Durant was apparently more talkative once he was back online. Rapaport shared screengrabs showing the Instagram DM exchange that ensued, with the actor claiming Durant had threatened him and brought his wife into the conversation. The language used by Durant in the messages contains enough homophobic and misogynistic language to make a "Call of Duty" lobby blush.
Warning, the following screengrabs contain a breathtaking amount of profanity:
I receive threats and disgusting messages DAILY, but never in my wildest dreams did I think @KDTrey5 would be among them. The 🐍 himself is now threatening me, bringing up my wife and wants to fight. This is supposed to be America’s sweetheart right? #ImDaRealMVP pic.twitter.com/l1VQfGMMRF
— MichaelRapaport (@MichaelRapaport) March 30, 2021
Durant responded to Rapaport's tweet with a brief apology, claiming the two regularly exchange even crazier messages.
Me and mike talk CRAZIER than this on the regular and today he’s pissed....My bad mike, damn!!
— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) March 30, 2021
Durant later repeated the claim and apologized again in an Instagram comment.
Rapaport continued to criticize Durant after the apologies, saying that while they had a brief professional relationship, they have never been friends and were not engaging in some kind of friendly banter, according to the Daily Mail. He has also continued posting about Durant on Twitter, though it's unclear how serious he is taking the whole thing.
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