A Tennessee lawmaker issued an apology on Tuesday evening for his behavior during a high school basketball game after he seemingly tried to remove a referee’s pants.
Republican Rep. Jeremy Faison said on Twitter that he had “acted the fool” during the basketball game, adding that he wants to “be able to make it right,” according to the Associated Press.
“I was wanting him to fight me,” Faison said in his apology. “Totally lost my junk and got booted from the gym.”
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Faison’s behavior was caught on a now-deleted livestream of his son’s basketball game at Providence Academy, a private Christian school located in Johnson City. His son played for the opposing team, Lakeway Christian Academy.
At the start of the livestream, Faison was seen sitting in the bleachers as players from the teams began to brawl with each other over a loose ball, according to the outlet.
Faison then left the bleachers and stood on the court while being asked to leave by the referee, the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association said in a report.
“You can’t tell me to leave the floor. This was your fault!” Faison told the referee as he pointed his finger at him, according to the report.
In Faison’s apology, he said that before that night, he has “never really lost” his temper as he did and that it was “completely stupid” of him.
Though Faison tried to “pants” the referee, the pants remained on, according to the report.
I acted the fool tonight.
I’m hoping to be able to make it right. pic.twitter.com/W8PINvTue5— Rep. Jeremy Faison (@JeremyFaison4TN) January 5, 2022
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“Emotions getting in the way of rational thoughts are never good,” Faison said. “I hope to be able to find the ref and ask for his forgiveness. I was bad wrong.”
Democratic Tennessee Rep. Gloria Johnson criticized Faison’s behavior in a tweet. “‘Pantsing’ a ref on the gym floor is next level bullying,” she said. “Not even the stuff of middle school locker rooms.”
Faison also said in his apology how for many years, he thought it was “wrong” whenever “a parent looses their temper at a sporting event,” adding that “it’s not Christian and it’s not mature and it’s embarrassing to the child.”
The Washington Examiner reached out to Providence Academy, the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association, and Jeremy Faison for a statement but did not receive a response.
