15 July 2023 , 21:00
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NBA legend Charles Barkley pledged his support to the transgender and gay communities with an X-rated rant towards critics.
Barkley is currently at a celebrity golf tournament in Lake Tahoe, an event where he gave an impassioned speech in support of the LGBTQ+ community 12 months ago. Amid a tsunami of anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment and regulations in the United States, Barkley returned to repeat the message.
Protests against Anheuser-Busch - which produces Bud Light - arose after the company partnered with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney, leading to a wave of anti-transgender demonstrations and discourse. Much of the population refused to purchase Bud Light as a result, with Anheuser-Busch reportedly recording losses of $27billion (£20.6bn) on the back of the campaign.
Laws in multiple states have also been passed that either restrict or totally ban gender-confirmation treatments and surgeries for both younger patients and adults. Barkley is a staunch defender of such ideals, and he gave another heartfelt speech in a message to bigots and critics of companies like Anheuser-Busch for supporting the LGBTQ+ community.
“I want y'all to drink this f****** beer,” Barkley said. “I want y'all to drink this f****** beer. I got three cases of Bud Light.
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“And I want to say this: if you're gay, bless you. If you're transgender, bless you. And, if you have a problem with that, f*** you!”
It was very similar to the speech the Phoenix Suns icon made back in 2022. Last year, he said: “If you’re gay or transgender, I love you - and if anyone gives you s***, tell them Charles said ‘F*** you!’”
Charles Barkley is taking part in the 2023 American Century Championship at Lake Tahoe, Nevada this weekend (Getty Images)Barkley is a vocal supporter for the LGBTQ+ community and has been for some time. Back in 2011, the 60-year-old staunchly stood up for gay marriage.
“First of all, society discriminates against gay people,” Barkley said on a DC radio show. “They always try to make it like jocks discriminate against gay people. I’ve been a big proponent of gay marriage for a long time, because as a black person, I can't be in for any form of discrimination at all.”
Barkley is currently in Lake Tahoe to compete in an all-celebrity golf tournament, the American Century Championship. The event takes place Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course, with former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo the reigning champion.