Well, this is strange.
Marshall Henderson, a former standout basketball player at the University of Mississippi, expressed disgust on Monday with ESPN’s coverage of Michael Sam.
In a tweet to his more than 67,000 followers, Henderson said that he will boycott “Sportscenter,” ESPN’s flagship highlight show, until “this michael sam nasty ass shit is off.”
Boycotting sportscenter til this michael sam nasty ass shit is off …. My brothers are 7 and 11 and saw that!!! #SICKENING
— marshall henderson (@NativeFlash22) May 12, 2014
Im sorry, but I DO NOT AGREE WHATSOEVER that should be shown to where innocent eyes can see!!!
— marshall henderson (@NativeFlash22) May 12, 2014
POINT #3: Who is the worse person, me for what I said or any of the HUNDREDS who just cursed me?? LOL uh oh… #ThisIsFun
— marshall henderson (@NativeFlash22) May 12, 2014
The initial tweet quickly racked up more than 1,000 retweets, setting off an avalanche of criticism. Websites like Deadspin and Yahoo provided coverage of the tweets.
But then in a bizarre twist, the brash shooting guard with a checkered past claimed the homophobic sentiment was all just a ruse. Henderson said the tweets were written as part of his gay friend’s psychological research.
THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR YOUR INPUT AND RESPONSES!!! MY NEXT TWEET IS REALLY GONNA THROW EVERYONE A CURVEBALL
— marshall henderson (@NativeFlash22) May 12, 2014
One of my best friends, WHO IS GAY, is about to graduate in psychology, asked me to say these things so he can have responses … TBC
— marshall henderson (@NativeFlash22) May 12, 2014
The point of his study was to see how people react when others say things or act a certain way against another group of people … TBC
— marshall henderson (@NativeFlash22) May 12, 2014
He chose gays because of how he relates to it and has to live it EVERYDAY of his life … He asked me because he knew I would get incredible
— marshall henderson (@NativeFlash22) May 12, 2014
Feedback, and OMG how crazy you people are lol … It is absolutely amazing to see what people have said, whether agreeing or disagreeing
— marshall henderson (@NativeFlash22) May 12, 2014
As far as what I said, Totally was 100% for the project … as far as my ACTUAL views – its irrelevant because its gonna happen regardless!
— marshall henderson (@NativeFlash22) May 12, 2014
Sorry for messing with everyone like that!!! Everyone really helped my boy AND FOR THAT WE ARE EXTREMELY APPRECIATIVE!!!
— marshall henderson (@NativeFlash22) May 12, 2014
ITS CALLED PSYCHOLOGY …. and everyone just got taken to school
— marshall henderson (@NativeFlash22) May 12, 2014
THANK YOU MICHAEL SAM FOR STANDING UP FOR YOU AND MAKING THIS WHOLE PROJECT POSSIBLE!!! TRYING TO BRIDGE THE GAP ONE DAY AT A TIME!!
— marshall henderson (@NativeFlash22) May 12, 2014
It was for…psy…chology.
Yeeeaaahhh, that’s the ticket. Everyone loves psychology.
A someone with a Masters in Experimental Psychology… I call BS.
Marshall henderson is dead to me now. Hope his career as a public figure is dead, too.
Prove it, junior. I’ve heard better lies from undergraduates who blew off exams.
Anyone who followed basketball in the Southeastern Conference even just a little bit this past season isn’t really surprised. This is par for the course for Marshall Henderson.