Justin Thomas dumped by sponsors Ralph Lauren after homophobic slur | Golf News

“Reflecting on our responsibility to all our stakeholders, we have decided to suspend Mr Thomas’ funding at this time.” Justin Thomas’s use of homophobic slur has come at a cost. funded by Ralph Lauren.

Justin Thomas is dumped by sponsors Ralph Lauren

Justin Thomas’ sponsorship deal with Ralph Lauren was terminated as a result of using homophobic slur last weekend.

Despite apologizing to Thomas for the offensive language, which occurred early in his third round of the Sentry Champions Tournament, the fashion company declared what he did “completely inconsistent with our values ”.

However, the Ralph Lauren Corporation left the door open to renew its partnership with the No. 3 world while “doing the hard and necessary work” to promote inclusion.

Thomas apologized for his homophobic slur last weekend

Read a hard statement: “At Ralph Lauren Corporation, we believe in the dignity of all human beings, regardless of age, race, gender identity, ethnicity, political affiliation or sexual orientation.

“This is part of our long-term commitment to nurturing cultures of belonging – in the workplace and in communities around the world.

“We are sorry for Mr Thomas’ recent language, which is completely inconsistent with our values. While we admit that he has apologized and acknowledged how bad his words are, he is a paid ambassador of our brand and what he has done goes against the inclusive culture. that we are trying to keep up.

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Justin Thomas, number three in the world, has apologized for using ‘inexcusable’ homophobic slur during his third round of the Champions League.

“Reflecting on our responsibility to all our stakeholders, we have decided to suspend Mr Thomas’ funding at this time.

“As we make this decision, it is our hope that Mr Thomas will do all the hard and necessary work to be with us again – truly examining this event, learning, growth and ultimately using its platform to promote inclusion. “

Thomas’ s slur was picked up by a green side microphone as he blamed himself for missing a short putt on the green quarter, and he later admitted: “There’s no excuse. I have no reason to say anything like that, it’s awful, I’m not the kind of person

“I have to do better. I am sorry for anyone and everyone I have offended and I will be better because of it.”

Thomas will be back in action next week in Abu Dhabi

The uproar created by his offensive slur was clearly on his mind during Kapalua’s last round, although he managed to close out 66 and finish off just one shot out of a playoff. , in which the English Harris defeated Joaquin Niemann with a birdie at the first extra hole.

“I scratched clearly. I made an awful, awful birth call,” Thomas said after his last round. “But I thought a lot last night that, we grow a lot as human beings over time. I wish I could learn to grow in a different way than the way I I chose to do it, but unfortunately it is in the past and I have nothing to do about it now.

“Now I just want to take some time going forward and try to get better because of it.”

Thomas returns to action on the European Tour next week and is one of the top performers at the starred HSBC Abu Dhabi Championship.