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Kobe's apparent slur at ref under review by NBA

Profanity-laced trash talk among players and nasty insults hurled at referees isn't exactly news.

Unless, that is, the offensive remark is caught on camera and the player in question is Kobe Bryant.

After going to the bench following a technical foul during Tuesday night's Lakers-Spurs game, the Lakers star can be seen yelling out what appears to be an offensive homophobic remark at an NBA official.

The camera follows Bryant as he punches his chair on the sideline and throws his towel. After sitting down, he yells out "Bennie!" (directed at referee Bennie Adams), and then appears to say "F-word [gay slur]."

CBSSports.com's Royce Young reports that the NBA said the incident was "under review."

On Wednesday, Bryant said his comments were out of frustration and not meant to offend.

"What I said last night should not be taken literally. My actions were out of frustration during the heat of the game, period," Bryant said in a statement issued through the Lakers. "The words expressed do NOT reflect my feelings towards the gay and lesbian communities and were NOT meant to offend anyone."

The outburst did not go unnoticed by the broadcast booth during the game. Right after Bryant's apparent insult, TNT announcer Steve Kerr quipped, "You might want to take the camera off him for the children watching at home."

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