ESPN Responds to Chris Broussard's Homophobic Comments

ESPN has apologized for the homophobic comments Chris Broussard made while discussing Jason Collins' coming out on the air.
"We regret that a respectful discussion of personal viewpoints became a distraction from today's news. ESPN is fully committed to diversity and welcomes Jason Collins' announcement," the network said in a statement.

Jason Collins becomes first active NBA player to come out

During a one-hour special episode of Outside the Lines Monday, Broussard spoke out against homosexuality and explained why he doesn't consider Collins to be a Christian. "If you're openly living that type of lifestyle, the Bible says you know them by their fruits. It says that that's a sin," Broussard said. "If you're openly living in unrepentant sin, whatever it may be, I believe that's walking in open rebellion to God and Jesus Christ."Broussard defended his statement on Twitter, writing: "Today on OTL, as part of a larger, wide-ranging discussion on today's news, I offered my personal opinion as it relates to Christianity, a point of view that I have expressed publicly before. I realize that some people disagree with my opinion and I accept and respect that. As has been the case in the past, my beliefs have not and will not impact my ability to report on the NBA. I believe Jason Collins displayed bravery with his announcement today and I have no objection to him or anyone else playing in the NBA."

Photos: See other celebrities who are out and proud

Though Broussard might not consider Collins a Christian, the basketball player discussed how his religion made him more tolerant in the first-person Sports Illustratededitorial in which he came out."I'm from a close-knit family. My parents instilled Christian values in me. They taught Sunday school, and I enjoyed lending a hand. I take the teachings of Jesus seriously, particularly the ones that touch on tolerance and understanding. On family trips, my parents made a point to expose us to new things, religious and cultural. In Utah, we visited the Mormon Salt Lake Temple. In Atlanta, the house of Martin Luther King Jr. That early exposure to otherness made me the guy who accepts everyone unconditionally," Collins wrote.Watch Broussard's comments below. What do you think of his remarks?