NBA superstar, Amare Stoudemire, has been fined $50,000 by the NBA for using an anti-gay slur in a message on Twitter to a fan.

The fan wrote Stoudemire on Twitter saying “You better come back stronger and quicker to make up for last season” and Stoudemire responded to the fan in a direct message using an anti-gay slur and profanity that read ”F–k you. I don’t have to do anything f-g”. The fan took a screen shot of the direct message and tweeted it, of course, the media took it and ran with it, bringing it to the public eye.

When Stoudemire got word that the message was publicized, he apologized to the fan on Sunday morning by sending him another message, that stated: “I apologize for what I said earlier. I just got off the plane and had time to think about it. Sorry bro. No Excuses. Won’t happen again.”

The fan took a screen shot of that message and posted it as well, unfortunately, the apologize came too little too late as Amare was already in the process of being penalized.

In addition to the personal apology that Amare sent his fan on Twitter, he also issued a public apology earlier today that read, “I am a huge supporter of civil rights for all people. I am disappointed in myself for my statement to a fan. I should have known better and there is no excuse.”