Miles Bennett
In January 2021, world number 3 golfer Justin Thomas was caught on a live mic using a homophobic slur during the Sentry Tournament of Champions in Hawaii. After missing a putt, Thomas muttered the word fa*t under his breath. He later apologized, calling his language inexcusable and expressing embarrassment. Thomas was dropped by sponsors Ralph Lauren, who called his language entirely inconsistent with our brand.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Golfer's name | Justin Thomas |
| Tournament | Sentry Tournament of Champions |
| Location | Hawaii |
| Date | 9 January 2021 |
| Slur | "Fa***t" |
| Apology | Yes |
| Sponsors dropped | Ralph Lauren |
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What You'll Learn
- Justin Thomas' use of the homophobic slur 'ft'
- Thomas' apology and his statement that the slur was inexcusable
- Thomas' sponsors, Ralph Lauren, dropped him following the incident
- Thomas' ranking and performance in the Sentry Tournament of Champions
- The PGA Tour's response and potential punishment for Thomas' actions
Justin Thomas' use of the homophobic slur 'ft'
On January 9, 2021, golfer Justin Thomas, the No. 3 ranked golfer in the world, used a homophobic slur after missing a putt during the third round of the Sentry Tournament of Champions in Hawaii. The slur, "fa*t", was caught on a live television microphone, although Thomas claimed he was unaware that he had said it until after the round was played.
Thomas issued an apology shortly after the incident, speaking with the Golf Channel and saying:
> "It's inexcusable. First off, I just apologize. I'm an adult. I'm a grown man, there's absolutely no reason for me to say anything like that. It's terrible. I'm extremely embarrassed. It's not who I am, it's not the kind of person that I am or anything that I do."
Thomas also stated that he was "very apologetic" and that he would "be better because of it". Despite his apology, Thomas faced consequences for his actions. He was dropped by sponsors Ralph Lauren, who released a statement saying that Thomas's language was "entirely inconsistent with our brand" and that they believed "in the dignity of all people, regardless of age, race, gender identity, ethnicity, political affiliation or sexual orientation".
Thomas is not the first professional golfer to come under fire for expressing homophobic sentiment. While the PGA Tour does not make conduct punishments public, it is likely that Thomas was fined for his actions. The PGA Tour released a statement saying that "Justin's comment was unacceptable".
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Thomas' apology and his statement that the slur was inexcusable
In January 2021, golfer Justin Thomas issued an apology after using a homophobic slur during the Sentry Tournament of Champions in Hawaii. The slur was picked up by television microphones after Thomas missed a putt during the tournament's third round.
Thomas, who was unaware that he had used the slur until after the round was played, spoke to the Golf Channel and offered an on-air apology:
> "First off, I just apologize." I'm an adult. I'm a grown man, there's absolutely no reason for me to say anything like that. It's terrible. I'm extremely embarrassed. It's not who I am, it's not the kind of person that I am or anything that I do. But unfortunately I did it and I have to own up to it and I'm very apologetic. I deeply apologize to everybody and anybody who I offended and I'll be better because of it."
Thomas referred to his comment as “inexcusable” and acknowledged that there was “no excuse” for his language. He also emphasized that his comments did not reflect who he is as a person.
Thomas' apology was well-received by the PGA Tour, who agreed that his comment was unacceptable. Despite this, Thomas faced consequences for his actions, including being dropped by sponsors Ralph Lauren, who stated that his language was "entirely inconsistent with our brand."
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Thomas' sponsors, Ralph Lauren, dropped him following the incident
On January 9, 2021, Justin Thomas, the world number 3 golfer, was heard using a homophobic slur on television microphones at the Sentry Tournament of Champions in Hawaii. Thomas used the word "fa*t" after missing a par putt on the fourth hole.
Following the incident, Thomas issued an apology, calling his language inexcusable and expressing embarrassment over his actions. He told the Golf Channel: "There's just no excuse. I'm an adult. I'm a grown man. There's absolutely no reason for me to say anything like that."
Among the fallout from the incident, Thomas was dropped by sponsors Ralph Lauren. On January 16, the clothing brand announced it had severed ties with the golfer, citing his language as “entirely inconsistent with our brand." In a statement, Ralph Lauren emphasized its commitment to fostering an inclusive culture and upholding the dignity of all people, regardless of sexual orientation.
Thomas, who had been with Ralph Lauren since 2013, expressed his disappointment over the decision but understood and accepted the company's right to terminate their sponsorship. He acknowledged that his comments had put the company "in a terrible position" and hoped to learn from the incident.
In addition to Ralph Lauren, Thomas faced potential consequences from other sponsors, including Titleist, Footjoy, Polo, Citi, NetJets, Woodford Reserve, and Beats. While it is unclear if these sponsors took any action, Thomas expressed his commitment to restoring relations and growing from the experience.
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Thomas' ranking and performance in the Sentry Tournament of Champions
In January 2021, golfer Justin Thomas issued an apology for using a homophobic slur during the Sentry Tournament of Champions in Kapalua, Hawaii. Thomas, who was the defending champion of the tournament, muttered the slur under his breath after missing a putt. He claimed he was unaware that he had said the slur until after the round was played.
Thomas, who is often ranked among the best players in the world, apologised on-air to the Golf Channel immediately after his round:
> "It's inexcusable... First off, I just apologise. I'm an adult. I'm a grown man, there's absolutely no reason for me to say anything like that. It's terrible. I'm extremely embarrassed. It's not who I am, it's not the kind of person that I am or anything that I do."
Thomas also lost sponsorship from Ralph Lauren following the incident. A statement from the clothing brand read:
> "At the Ralph Lauren Corporation, we believe in the dignity of all people, regardless of age, race, gender identity, ethnicity, political affiliation or sexual orientation... We are disheartened by Mr Thomas' recent language, which is entirely inconsistent with our values."
Now, onto Thomas' ranking and performance in the Sentry Tournament of Champions.
Thomas has won at Kapalua twice, with his most recent win in 2020. Aside from these two victories, Thomas has had two 3rd and one tied 5th-place finishes. In 2021, Thomas was the defending champion of the Sentry Tournament of Champions and was ranked among the top five players through two rounds. However, after three rounds, he moved down to 5th place, tied with Sungjae Im.
Thomas started the first round of the 2021 Sentry Tournament of Champions tied for the lead with Harris English. After playing his first nine holes of round two in four under-par, Thomas looked poised to assume command. However, a level par back-nine left the competition wide open.
In 2020, Thomas won the Sentry Tournament of Champions in a three-way playoff, despite finding the hazard on the 677-yard 18th hole and bogeying. Xander Schauffele, his playing partner, needed to two-putt from 35 feet to successfully defend his title, but he three-jacked it. Patrick Reed, the third player in the playoff, had a chance to win but couldn't deliver.
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The PGA Tour's response and potential punishment for Thomas' actions
The PGA Tour does not make conduct punishments public, so it is unclear what action the PGA will take against Justin Thomas. However, the PGA Tour did release a statement saying, "As he expressed after his round, we agree that Justin's comment was unacceptable." This indicates that the PGA Tour does not condone Thomas' behaviour and finds his actions unacceptable.
While the PGA Tour's response was measured, some of Thomas' sponsors took a more hard-line approach. Ralph Lauren, one of Thomas' main sponsors, ended its relationship with the golfer due to the incident. In a statement, the clothing brand said that Thomas' language was "entirely inconsistent with our brand" and that they believe in the "dignity of all people, regardless of age, race, gender identity, ethnicity, political affiliation or sexual orientation."
Thomas is likely to face a fine for his actions, as the PGA Tour considers his behaviour "conduct unbecoming a professional." While the PGA Tour does not disclose conduct punishments, it is standard practice to fine players for inappropriate behaviour.
In addition to the potential fine, Thomas may also experience a loss of endorsements and sponsorships. Beyond Ralph Lauren, it is unclear if any other sponsors have decided to cut ties with Thomas. However, he mentioned making umpteen calls and emails to his other sponsors, indicating that he is working to maintain those relationships.
Thomas has also faced backlash from the public and the media, with some calling for further punishment. As a high-profile golfer, ranked third in the world at the time, his actions have brought negative attention and could impact his reputation and standing in the golfing community.
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Frequently asked questions
Thomas said "fa*t" after missing a putt during the Sentry Tournament of Champions in Kapalua, Hawaii.
Thomas issued an apology, calling his language inexcusable and expressing embarrassment over his words. He also lost sponsorship deals with Ralph Lauren and was condemned by other sponsors.
In a statement, Ralph Lauren said Thomas's language was entirely inconsistent with our brand and that they believe "in the dignity of all people, regardless of age, race, gender identity, ethnicity, political affiliation, or sexual orientation."
Ex-pro golfer Maya Reddy, who quit the sport after experiencing discrimination, said Thomas's use of homophobic language reflects an aspect of golf that is not inclusive. She added that the ease with which the offensive word was used shows issues facing golf regarding inclusion.
