BRISTOL, Conn. (AP) — ESPN announced that it has fired network analyst and former Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling following his comments on Facebook about transgender people.

In a statement released Wednesday, ESPN said "Curt Schilling has been advised that his conduct was unacceptable and his employment with ESPN has been terminated."

This week, Schilling reposted an image of an overweight man wearing a long blond wig and revealing women's clothing. It included the phrase: "Let him in! To the restroom with your daughter or else you're a narrow minded, judgmental, unloving, racist bigot who needs to die!!!"

Schilling added his own comments, saying, "A man is a man no matter what they call themselves" and "Now you need laws telling us differently? Pathetic."

Schilling was apparently referring to laws in several states that restrict bathroom access to transgender people.

Earlier Wednesday, Schilling defended the post on his blog, saying he was expressing his opinion and those criticizing him are frauds.

(Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)