Rampage Jackson, UFC Fighter, Justifies 'Gay' Comments

Rampage Jackson Justifies 'Gay' Comments

Quinton "Rampage" Jackson recently lost his anticipated fight against Rashad Evans last month, but that's not deterring him from doing what he needs to do to promote the upcoming "A-Team" film.

Jackson plays "B.A. Baracus," the part made iconic by Mr. T during the '80s television show. But in an interview with the L.A. Times, Jackson may have ruffled some feathers with his comments regarding acting:

"Acting is kind of gay," Jackson told the L.A. Times. "It makes you soft. You got all these people combing your hair and putting a coat over your shoulders when you're cold. I don't want a coat over my shoulders! I'm a tough-ass [individual]!

"Vancouver strikes me as a San Francisco–kind of place," he continued. "And I don't want [individuals] getting ideas about me. I feel in my heart I'm the toughest [individual] on the planet. And I don't want nothing changing my train of thought. If you don't believe that when we step inside the octagon, it shows."

The response from the public, of course, was to label him as homophobic, anti-gay and a number of other names. Jackson was surprised by all the pushback, so he took to his personal blog to provide some clarity and justify his language:

"Let me teach you a little something about me cause I know y'all don't really know me," Jackson writes on his blog. "I am a black man from Memphis, Tennessee, who grew up in the South, where I faced discrimination my whole life. I know very well how it feels for someone to judge you for something you have no control over so having gone through that I know how it feels.

"I took a vow that I didn't even have to say that I would never discriminate against anybody for anything other that how they treat me or others around them," he continued. "So not only DO I NOT HATE gay people, I actually accept them for who and what they are. They always seem happy and most of them I meet are very kind and nice individuals. Yes, and like most straight guys, I joke around with the whole gay thing and I see it as comedy, not saying that's right or wrong but I don't do it out of hate. I don't hate fat girls, but I make fun of them too."

Jackson continues to explain the circumstances around the interview, saying he didn't even know it was an interview and that everything said was in jest, fitting with his personality.

Let's hope it comes across better on the movie screen.

The "A-Team" hits theaters on June 11th.