The past few weeks, Jordan Lucas has faced a wave of homophobic criticism on social media. Targeted after celebrations deemed “too expressive”, the American volleyball player responded with a compilation of actions on his Instagram.
On April 13th, Jordan Lucas reacted to the numerous homophobic criticisms circulating on social media for weeks. It all started with a few celebratory gestures. On the court, the American volleyball player did not hide his joy after scoring points. This expressiveness led to a wave of negative comments, some of a homophobic nature.
At the beginning of April, the third highest scorer of his team was attacked directly for his attitude, deemed “too feminine” by some internet users according to L’Équipe. The situation took a different turn during a televised match between CSUN and UC Irvine on April 9th. On the microphone, commentator Charlie Brande expressed surprise that Jordan Lucas had not “been punched yet”, criticizing his celebrations at the net as “antics” and “bad taste”. A few days later, he apologized but was temporarily suspended from the airwaves.
Global Buzz: Faced with these attacks, the American chose to respond publicly. In a video posted on Instagram, which went viral with over 25 million views, the volleyball player fully embraces his style and denounces the judgments he faces. He explains that he refuses to change his behavior to fit stereotypical expectations, claiming the right to express his joy freely.
In the comments, many internet users praise his courage and authenticity. Some point out that celebrations are an integral part of sports, regardless of gender or orientation. Others denounce the persistence of stereotypes in the sports world, where certain attitudes remain associated with norms of masculinity. With 29 million views and 1.6 million likes, this video helped him gain 100,000 followers in just a few days.
“Some love it, some hate it.” “I have been playing volleyball like this since I was 14 years old, so it’s not new to me,” the athlete recently explained on YouTube to TMZ. “Some love it, some hate it. But that’s just me getting animated. Even more so in tense matches.”
The 22-year-old reveals that his celebrations are his signature. When he was in high school, they were much more expressive. “Many people admired it and found it original in this sport. When I was recruited to play in college, I decided to stay true to myself.”
The subject raises questions in a country where President Donald Trump is currently working to restrict the rights of the LGBT+ community.
