Kyle Larson isn’t being ‘canceled,’ he just has to deal with the consequences of using a racist slur

NASCAR and Kyle Larson’s team suspended him for using a racist slur.

Kyle Larson has no excuse. There is no valid justification for using a racist slur. And yet, Larson did.

The NASCAR driver said the N-word on the radio while competing Sunday in a virtual iRacing event, which was being broadcast on Twitch. And then that clip quickly made its way to Twitter and around the internet.

Seemingly unaware that his audio was being broadcast to other competitors and to anyone watching the livestream, Larson appeared to have some technical issues communicating when he said: “You can’t hear me? Hey, [expletive].” In iRacing, a driver’s name appears on the screen when they talk, confirming that it was Larson who used the slur.

That’s when NASCAR driver Anthony Alfredo, who competes in the second-tier XFINITY Series, said: “Kyle, you’re talking to everyone, bud.” Other drivers on the livestream reacted in disbelief and confirmed that they heard what Larson said.

It shouldn’t have to be explicitly explained, but apparently it still does. The slur Larson used is harmful and hateful and derogatory and demeaning and insensitive and racist. And however much this racist incident impacts Larson and his career is no one’s fault but his own.

The 27-year-old driver — who is of Japanese descent and an alumnus of NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity program — tweeted a video apology Monday afternoon, saying in part:

“Last night I made a mistake and said the word that should never, ever be said, and there’s no excuse for that. I wasn’t raised that way. It’s just an awful thing to say, and I feel very sorry for my family, my friends, my partners, the NASCAR community and, especially, the African-American community. I understand the damage is probably unrepairable, and I own up to that. But I just wanted to let you all know how sorry I am.”

Arguably the top sought-after free agent this year, Larson is currently in the final year of his contract with Chip Ganassi Racing, which announced Monday morning that it suspended the driver without pay while they “work through this situation with all appropriate parties.” The team also described Larson’s language as “offensive and unacceptable.”

Not long after that, NASCAR — without specifically describing racist language as racist — said in a statement that it “will not tolerate” such language and suspended the driver indefinitely. He must also attend sensitivity training as directed by NASCAR.

According to the rule book (via NBC Sports), NASCAR can fine, indefinitely suspend or terminate a member for making a public statement or communication that “criticizes, ridicules, or otherwise disparages another person based upon that person’s race, color, creed, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, age, or handicapping condition.”

Even if Larson somehow isn’t aware of the specifics in NASCAR’s rule book, he absolutely still should know better. He should know it’s unacceptable to be racist, act racist or say racist things, and that behaving in such a way will have negative repercussions.

This isn’t an example of the so-called “cancel culture” or people overreacting. This is a professional athlete and public figure facing accountability and being held responsible for saying a racist slur.

Whatever the complete consequences of Larson’s actions may be, there will surely be people who argue over a few things about this situation: His intent and that his life is being ruined over one mistake.

First, intent does not matter. Regardless of how Larson meant it or delivered it, it’s a vile and degrading word.

And if his sponsors, like McDonald’s or Credit One Bank, pull their support, or if he doesn’t land the best ride he could have for next season, his life isn’t being ruined. He’s just going to learn (if he didn’t know already) that there are consequences for actions and words. He’s not being thrown in prison or jail because of this, and the government isn’t going to repossess his assets.

But, as NASCAR’s code of conduct explains, racing at this top level is a “privilege,” and the governing body reserves the right to revoke that privilege if it’s deemed necessary. That’s it.

Additionally, this doesn’t seem like a mistake on Larson’s part. He said it so casually and with a lightness in his tone that implies this isn’t the first time he’s said it. People who never under any circumstances use such a heinous slur don’t accidentally let it slip from time to time, and the ease with which it came out of Larson’s mouth suggests he doesn’t fall into that category.

Surely his team, his sponsors, and governing body officials see that too. It’s his job to represent those entities in the best possible light, and uttering a slur is the exact opposite of that — along with being obscenely offensive to the masses.

Larson’s suspension by NASCAR and by Chip Ganassi Racing don’t mean much immediately, other than the missing paycheck. The NASCAR season, like the rest of the sports world, is on hold because of the coronavirus outbreak, racing has turned digital, with NASCAR and IndyCar holding exhibition iRacing events online with a wide variety of competitors. It’s where some of the biggest racing names in the world have been hanging out in lieu of competition, and it’s no surprise that Larson — who competes in a variety of racing disciplines beyond NASCAR — was among them.

But the possible future consequences for him could be abundant. Will he lose one sponsor? More than one? Will the powerhouse NASCAR teams who previously might have been interested in him pass? Will he have trouble securing a ride?

We don’t know at this point, and with so much uncertainty about when NASCAR could get back to racing, we may not know for a while. But before fans try to point fingers and blame everyone else for whatever the fallout ends up being, it’s important to remember that this is no one’s fault but Larson’s.

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