Artemi Panarin apologizes for joke about sex with black women
Chicago Blackhawks winger Artemi Panarin has apologized for comments he made in a KHL video that resurfaced this week, in which he joked that he could never “have sex with a black woman.”
The video, shot in 2012 and recently removed from YouTube, was a segment from a Russian TV show that featured then-teammates Yaroslav Tulyakov and Panarin asking each other jokey questions.
According to those that have seen the video, Tulyakov asks Panarin “what could you never do?” Panarin responds with “have sex with a black woman.” The players laugh, and then Panarin answers a second time with “I would never walk at night.”
The video was kicked around social media on Sunday and was featured on the Blackhawks blog Faxes From Uncle Dale on Monday.
The Chicago Tribune’s Chris Hine reached out to the Blackhawks and Panarin, and both distanced themselves from the comments:
“In 2012, I was a guest on a Russian TV show and made insensitive comments that I deeply regret,” Panarin said in a statement the Blackhawks released to the Tribune. “I understand my comments are offensive and I apologize for my hurtful words.”
The Hawks said in a statement they spoke with Panarin about the video. “On Sunday, we were made aware of the video from Artemi’s appearance on a Russian TV show in 2012,” the team said. “We immediately addressed the matter with him. His comments in the video in no way represent the values of our organization. He has apologized and understands the offensive nature of his words.”
So we have yet another attempt at humor from a young player that circles around and bites them on the backside. To Panarin’s credit, at least he didn’t claim his Twitter was hacked. And to the credit of the player and the team, the apology was swift.
Meanwhile, “Artemi Panarin apologizes for joke about sex with black women” is an actual headline we’re writing in 2017. Sports!
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Greg Wyshynski is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Contact him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or find him on Twitter. His book, TAKE YOUR EYE OFF THE PUCK, is available on Amazon and wherever books are sold.
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