London 2012 Olympics: Sprinter referred to as 'Tyson Homosexual' because of website's ban on word gay

 
Tyson Gay of the United States after competing in the Men's 400m Round 1 Heats on Day 8 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium on August 4, 2012 in London, England.
Getty
8 August 2012

A Christian website that published a story about sprinter “Tyson Homosexual” because of its auto-ban on the word “gay” has vowed not to make the same gaffe twice.

Right wing website OneNewsNow wrote how “Tyson Homosexual was a blur in blue, sprinting 100 meters faster than anyone ever has”.

The story sparked a storm on Twitter yesterday, but it later emerged that the furore was a little late - four years late, in fact, as it was actually from Beijing 2008.

The website reported: “’It means a lot to me,’ the 25-year-old Homosexual said. ‘I'm glad my body could do it, because now I know I have it in me.’”

It continued: “Wearing a royal blue uniform with red and white diagonal stripes across the front, along with matching shoes, all in a tribute to 1936 Olympic star Jesse Owens, Homosexual dominated the competition.

“In Saturday's opening heat, Homosexual pulled way up, way too soon, and nearly was caught by the field, before accelerating again and lunging in for fourth place.”

And it was not the only blunder the website made. American basketball player Rudy Gay also got the auto filter treatment with a story saying: “Memphis Grizzlies backers hit the hay hoping that Kevin Love would open things up for Rudy Homosexual in the frontcourt.”

News director Fred Jackson promised his organisation has now sorted the software glitch.

“We took the filter out for that word,” he said.

“We don’t object to the word gay, except when it refers to people who practice a homosexual lifestyle.”

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