NFL star forced to clarify sexuality after homophobic trolls jump on underwear picture
Odell Beckham Jr faced homophobic abuse for this Instagram selfie. (Odell Beckham Jr/Instagram)
Odell Beckham Jr has defended his sexuality after being trolled over a provocative underwear picture.
The NFL (National Football League) star grabbed his bulge through skimpy black boxers for the selfie, which has been plastered on a downtown LA billboard as part of Calvin Klein’s MYCALVINS IRL campaign.
Beckham shared the image to his Instagram page on Monday (August 13), where homophobic trolls quickly accused him of being “sus,” or a suspected homosexual.
The footballer defended himself, writing under his original post: “I’m straight! Like beyond it. If I sit here and defend myself y’all gon’ say I’m tryna defend myself, if I sit there and say nothin y’all gon’ say ‘see he didn’t say anything.’
“I’m good wit’ me. Which is dumb straightttt… Period.”
Odell Beckham Jr ‘not offended’ by gay rumours
The Cleveland Browns wide receiver has long been subjected to rumours about his sexuality.
In the cover story for GQ‘s August issue, he said that he “honestly wasn’t offended” when gossip sites said that he was “closeted.”
View this post on Instagram
Here’s a pic of me and a world class lamp ???? …. @calvinklein #IRL #MyCalvins
“It was almost more funny to me,” he said. “I almost messed with them even more.”
“I have no problem with anyone’s sexual orientation.”
Addressing the specific homophobia which takes place within the black community, Beckham added: “Yes, it makes it worse when it comes from the black community.
“I feel like everything is a double standard. You want us to support the black community, and then you go out and bash black people for being happy.
“‘Oh, he’s always around guys, he’s never around girls.’ I just don’t want you to see what woman I’m with, and I don’t want you in my personal life. I always try to keep my personal life my personal life. I feel like I don’t owe that to anybody.”
As with the English Football League, no active player in America’s NFL has ever come out as gay or bisexual.
