Cam’ron has taken the blame for LaMelo Ball making a homophobic remark during a postgame interview, for which the NBA star was fined $100,000.
After the Charlotte Hornets triumphed over the Milwaukee Bucks 115-114 this past weekend, Ball was speaking to a reporter about his team’s defense in the final possession when he said: “Yeah, we loaded up — no homo — but that’s what we wanted.”
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The 23-year-old point guard was criticized for the comment, which the NBA called “offensive and derogatory” in announcing their six-figure fine.
Speaking on his sports talk show It Is What It Is on Tuesday (November 19), Killa Cam claimed that he and his native Harlem are to blame for the controversy.
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“I blame myself. I really do, man,” he said. “I blame the east side of Harlem. You got this in Jefferson Projects probably in 1996 when we were saying this. And before that — what the fuck? God damn, we did this a long time.”
Cam continued: “To be honest with you, this is why we started saying ‘pause.’ We used to say what Melo said, but we were like, ‘The people are sensitive, you get fined.’ And that’s why we don’t say it anymore.”
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Co-host Ma$e, meanwhile, was taken aback by the fine, commenting: “Just for that? My goodness […] I mean, people gotta be responsible for their words but I think if you know these guys are playing, it should be taken a little bit lighter.
“It’s not like he said it towards anybody living a certain way. He was just joking.”
LaMelo Ball has since apologized for the comment, saying in a postgame interview after the Hornets’ loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday (November 17): “Before we get started, I just want to address the comment yesterday. I really didn’t mean anything [by it] and don’t want to offend anybody. I’ve got love for everybody, and I don’t discriminate.”
Ball has not yet responded to Cam’ron’s comments.
The Dipset rapper recently found himself on the other side of some homophobic comments after he was seen warmly embracing former rival 50 Cent at an event in New York City last month.
Dame Dash, who has been in a war of words with 50 of late, used the moment to take more shots at the G-Unit boss.
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“I called Cam with the serious face like, ‘Yo, I saw that shit with 50 Cent. Why he giving you the pat pat? Since when did n-ggas see each other, they smacking each other on the hips? What’s that all about? What was your reaction?’” he said on his America Nu Network.
“‘Did you say stop? What do you do when a strong-ass n-gga in a tight suit smacks you on the ass?’ You gotta say stop. No pat pat. We not in the pat pat club.’”
