Red Sox Outfielder Jarren Duran Has The Top-Selling Jersey In The MLB After Suspension For Gay Slur

I guess any publicity is good publicity? Boston Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran recently came under fire after he was caught on a hot mic yelling a gay slur at a heckling fan during a game against the Houston Astros. The fan could be heard yelling at Duran as he stepped up to the plate: "Tennis racket. You need a tennis racket." And Duran responded, though it seems like it was more to himself than anyone else because it didn't sound like it was loud enough for the fan himself to hear (though ironically, the whole world ended up hearing it). "Shut up you f**king f***ot." (Not sure if he was trying to rhyme with the fan, but apparently Duran is quite the unintentional poet). https://twitter.com/awfulannouncing/status/1822812229684883664 After the game, the outfielder issued an apology through the team: "During tonight’s game, I used a truly horrific word when responding to a fan. I feel awful knowing how many people I offended and disappointed. I apologize to the entire Red Sox organization, but more importantly to the entire LGBTQ community. Our young fans are supposed to be able to look up to me as a role model, but tonight I fell far short of that responsibility. I will use this opportunity to educate myself and my teammates and to grow as a person." And the team also issued a statement on the incident: "The Red Sox addressed this incident with Jarren immediately following today’s game. We echo Jarren’s apology to our fans, especially to the LGBTQ community. We strive to be an organization that welcomes all fans to Fenway Park, and we will continue to educate our employees, players, coaches and staff on the importance of inclusivity." Duran's hot mic moment ended up costing him, after it was announced on Monday that the MLB and Red Sox had suspended the outfielder for two games, with his salary from the time that he misses being donated to PFLAG (formerly known as Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays), an organization whose mission is "supporting, educating, and advocating for LGBTQ+ people and those who love them." The suspension comes during a season in which Duran was named an All-Star Game MVP and is one of the top 20 hitters in MLB for the year with a .291 batting average and 14 home runs. But despite the incident, it doesn't look like Red Sox fans are turning on their star outfielder. According to the MLB shop, Duran currently has the top-selling jersey not only of the Red Sox, but in all of Major League Baseball. The player has also drawn criticism for wearing a shirt that says "F*ck 'Em" while giving a statement after the suspension was announced, during which he once again apologized for the language he used towards the fan. https://twitter.com/Dan_Shaughnessy/status/1823146949265981532