FILE – Carlton Davis #24 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers reacts as confetti falls after defeating the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV at Raymond James Stadium on February 07, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. The Buccaneers defeated the Chiefs 31-9. Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Kevin C. Cox / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Carlton Davis has apologized for using an anti-Asian slur on Sunday in a tweet that has since been deleted, saying he was not aware of the word’s “darker, negative connotation.”
Davis said it was not his intention to offend and the term had a different meaning in South Florida.
“I used a term that from where I come from has always meant ‘lame’ but I did not realize it has a much darker, negative connotation,” Davis tweeted.
“I have learned a valuable lesson and want to apologize to anyone that was offended by seeing that word because we need to focus on helping each other during these tough times.”
In the last year, there has been increased reports of anti-Asian hate crimes in the United States.
The Biden administration has announced measures responding to rising anti-Asian violence, including deploying $49.5 million from COVID-19 relief funds for U.S. community programs that help victims.
.”.. I’ll retire that word from my vocabulary giving the hard times our Asian family are enduring,” Davis added.