Dexter Manley Calls Troy Aikman 'Queer' During Washington Radio Interview: Former Redskins DE Apologizes For Gay Slur [AUDIO]
It’s safe to say that former Washington Redskins defensive end Dexter Manley won’t be asked to make any radio appearances again anytime soon.
Manley, who is widely considered to be one of the most prolific pass rushers of the 1980’s, made a guest appearance on WTOP, a Washington, D.C., area radio station, on Monday. During the interview, the WTOP host jokingly asked Manley if the Redskins had lost to the Broncos on Sunday because Troy Aikman, a former Dallas Cowboys quarterback and current Fox NFL analyst, had acted as the game’s color commentator.
The 54-year-old responded to the lighthearted question by calling Aikman a gay slur. “I think Troy Aikman’s a queer,” Manley told the show’s stunned hosts.
Manley’s use of the word “queer” drew an immediate response from the WTOP hosts, who demanded that the former NFL star apologize for his comment. “We don’t want to go there,” the host said. “Do you want to apologize to him?”
The former Pro Bowler first said that he didn’t intend to apologize for using the gay slur, but then admitted that his comment had gone too far. “Okay, I’m sorry about that,” Manley said. “I’ll just say that I take that back.”
When the interview came to an end, Jim Farley, WTOP’s Vice President of Programming, took to Twitter to discuss Manley’s comments. “We are shocked and stunned. Needless to say, Dexter Manley will not be on WTOP again,” Farley wrote to one Twitter user. “He has been doing live interviews with us the day after Redskins games. Way over the top today,” he added.
WTOP also released a statement to address Manley’s use of the word “queer,” the Washington Post reports.
“This morning in a live interview former Redskins player Dexter Manley made an offensive and derogatory comment. He was immediately challenged by WTOP news anchors Mike Moss and Bruce Alan. We were shocked and stunned and we apologize to our listeners that this happened on WTOP. WTOP has contacted a representative for Manley and informed her that he will not be returning,” the statement read.
This isn’t the first time that Manley has come under fire for inappropriate behavior. In 1991, Manley was forced to retire from the NFL after his fourth positive drug test, despite an effective career in which he amassed 97.5 sacks, the New York Daily News reports. In 1995, he was arrested for possession of crack cocaine, and spent the next two years in prison.
The audio of Dexter Manley's WTOP interview can be heard below, courtesy of the New York Daily News.
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