It’s not entirely news that Tony Dungy is an anti-gay bigot who takes a lot of opportunities to speak out against LGBTQ+ issues, amongst other things. But perhaps because of the hot-button nature of the issues he’s involved himself in this week, there are a lot of discussions going on surrounding the former NFL coach and NBC Sports analyst.
Dungy, who was heard dragging down the energy of one of the most exciting NFL playoff game finishes of all time last weekend, responded to a Daily Wire tweet about Minnesota legislators discussing a bill that would require menstrual products in boys’ school bathrooms by sharing a thoroughly debunked anecdote about litter boxes in schools.
Dungy, who has long been a proponent of Christian views of marriage and family as well as an opponent of LGBTQ+ rights, shared the hoax as part of an effort to perpetuate a backlash against the recognition of gender variance and transgender equality.
On Friday, Dungy spoke at the anti-abortion March for Life in Washington, D.C., and decided to bring up Damar Hamlin’s cardiac arrest during a speech about pushing to ban abortions.
Dungy was roundly criticized for the speech, but not everyone disagreed with his sentiment about taking personal autonomy away from women.
“Lot of hit pieces on Tony Dungy coming out in last 24 hours. All I can say is Coach Dungy is one of the most genuine, humble, and morally upright people I’ve ever met. There is not an ounce of hate in him. The only hate in these articles is the hatred of Christianity,” tweeted CBS Sports’ Danny Kanell on Friday in defense of Dungy.
Lot of hit pieces on Tony Dungy coming out in last 24 hours. All I can say is Coach Dungy is one of the most genuine, humble, and morally upright people I've ever met. There is not an ounce of hate in him. The only hate in these articles is the hatred of Christianity.
— Danny Kanell (@dannykanell) January 20, 2023
Kanell was met with some pretty swift pushback of his own over his usage of Christianity to deflect from the terrible things Dungy has said over the years.
I guess standing up against homosexuality/gay marriage/gay adoption makes you genuine, humble and morally upright. Because, hey. Christian values? Or something? Right, @dannykanell? https://t.co/y1UIyudYXJ
— Jeff Pearlman (@jeffpearlman) January 20, 2023
That’s not true. Hiding in a warped version of Christianity doesn’t give one a pass to be hateful. That kind of Christianity is make believe.
— Keri Potts (@MsPotts_ATL) January 20, 2023
Which Bible verse pertains to spreading fake kitty litter news?
— Jeff Ermann (@Jeff_Ermann) January 20, 2023
https://twitter.com/molly_knight/status/1616528254063751168
Accurately reporting what somebody says and/or does is not a “hit piece.” If there is blowback and/or consequences from the accurate reporting of your words or actions, that should probably tell you something. https://t.co/9qjlLXBgW5
— Yaya Dubin (@JADubin5) January 20, 2023
NBC has yet to comment on Dungy’s most recent commentary, though that’s par for the course for them.
