Stephanie Rice Offers Tearful Apology For Anti-Gay Tweet

BY ON TOP MAGAZINE STAFF 
PUBLISHED: SEPTEMBER 08, 2010

A tearful Stephanie Rice apologized Wednesday for an anti-gay tweet,
 the AFP reported.

The triple Olympic gold medalist tweeted “Suck on that faggots”
after the Australian rugby union team, the Wallabies, pulled a
come-from-behind victory against South Africa's Springboks on
 Saturday.

But at a specially convened news conference in Sydney, the 22-year-
old swimming champ insisted she's not homophobic and pleaded for
 a chance at redemption.

She said her comments were “thoughtless” and “careless,” and added
that she did not intend to offend anybody.

“I've learned a lot in the last couple of days,” Rice said. “I've learned I
must think before I speak and this has been a very important lesson.”

“I've also learned that some things you say can mean more to others
than they do to you.”

“I owe it to those who I have offended to publicly say, I am sorry. It is
not me to give offense to other people, no matter who they are,” she added.

Rice's Twitter comments created a firestorm of controversy and
pushed luxury car maker Jaguar to dump her as its spokesperson.

Openly gay Australian sports figures disagreed on whether Rice is 
homophobic. Former rugby league star Ian Roberts called her an “idiot,” 
but Matthew Mitcham, the 22-year-old Olympic gold medal diver, 
came to her defense, saying, “I know she's not homophobic because
we are good friends.”