Red Sox player Jarren Duran gestures at fan following reported offensive remark

Jarren Duran’s Response to Fan Abuse

Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran expressed that his outburst toward fans during a recent game was prompted by offensive remarks directed at him.

During Boston’s 6-0 loss to the Twins, which was broadcast as part of the 2024 All-Star game, Duran flipped off a fan after striking out in the fifth inning at Minnesota’s Target Field. He later explained that the gesture was aimed at someone who had allegedly told him to “kill yourself.”

“Someone told me to kill myself,” Duran shared with the media. “I guess I’m used to this now, right? I mean, this stuff happens. If someone says something to me like that, of course I’m going to respond. It’s not great to react like that, but, you know, things can trigger you.”

According to reports, Red Sox manager Alex Cora did not witness the incident.

This isn’t the first time Duran, 29, has encountered antagonistic fans. Last April, he confronted a fan during a game in Cleveland, who was subsequently ejected. While he didn’t directly comment on what was said, it seemed to allude to Duran’s earlier struggles, including a 2022 suicide attempt that he talked about in the Netflix documentary series “The Clubhouse: A Year With the Red Sox,” which aired just before the latest incident.

Following the Cleveland episode, Duran noted that security addressed the issue promptly. “A fan just said something inappropriate,” he remarked. “I was relieved that security handled it and that the refs were aware too. When you put yourself out there, you risk a lot, but having teammates, coaches, and supportive fans around helps a lot.”

In a past incident, Duran faced backlash when he was caught on a hot mic using an anti-gay slur, which led to a two-game suspension. The team subsequently donated his salary from those games to support LGBTQ organizations.

After the recent game, Duran issued an apology, emphasizing the need to learn from his mistakes. “During tonight’s game, I used truly awful language in response to a fan. I feel terrible about how many people I’ve offended. I apologize to the whole Red Sox organization, but most importantly, I apologize to the LGBTQ community. Younger fans deserve to see me as a role model, but I really fell short of that tonight. I’ll use this opportunity to educate myself and grow as a person.”