Curt Schilling has been sacked as a baseball analyst by sports broadcaster ESPN for publishing a Facebook post that was considered offensive to transgender people.
On Tuesday, the ex-Major League Baseball pitcher reposted a photo on Facebook showing a man wearing a wig and women’s clothing. A sarcastic caption reportedly posted by Schilling alongside the photo is said to have read: “LET HIM IN! to the restroom with your daughter or else you’re a narrow-minded, judgmental, unloving racist bigot who needs to die.”
Schilling’s post was widely interpreted as a comment on the controversy surrounding North Carolina’s new “bathroom bill.” It says that people can only use public facilities that match the gender on their birth certificate, regardless of their status now.
Bruce Springsteen and Ringo Starr are among celebrities who have canceled gigs this month as a show of support to transgender people who object to the new legislation.
In his post, Schilling apparently added: “If you get offended by ANYTHING in this post, that’s your fault, all yours. And for you people too dense to understand this one very important thing. My opinion, 100% mine, and only mine. I don’t represent anyone but myself here, on Facebook, on Twitter, anywhere.”
Schilling, who won three World Series titles as a pitcher with Arizona Diamondbacks and Boston Red Sox, was suspended by ESPN last year for making controversial remarks about Muslims.
In a statement, ESPN said: “ESPN is an inclusive company. Curt Schilling has been advised that his conduct was unacceptable and his employment with ESPN has been terminated.”