Rick Fox, the former NBA star turned Bahamian political candidate, offered a tongue-in-cheek apology on Sunday for his role in a physical altercation earlier this week — but made it clear he isn’t backing down.
Speaking at a political rally, Fox addressed the incident, which saw him lunge at a man he claims threatened his campaign manager. His “apology” was aimed at his family, who he said might be meeting the “enforcer” side of him for the first time; at his team, for not being as quick as he used to be; and at the rival Progressive Liberal Party — for absolutely nothing.
Fox’s defiant non-apology comes after video surfaced of the former Lakers star confronting a heckler at a campaign event. Fox later told TMZ that the opposing party “are notorious for victimizing and bullying Bahamians” and that he was simply standing up to a bully, just as he did during his basketball career.
“I stood up to the bully no different than my basketball career when I was the enforcer,” Fox said. “Someone threatens a teammate’s life or threatens my life, I will defend to the death if necessary.”
Fox retired from the NBA 22 years ago but has now entered the political arena in the Bahamas, where his tough-talking approach is drawing both support and criticism.