Giannis Antetokounmpo responded to racist comments regarding his brother Thanasis made by a TV sports commentator after a Panathinaikos-Olympiacos basketball game.
Takis Tsoukalas, a controversial television personality who hosts a pro-Olympiacos late-night sports show, made racist comments regarding Panathinaikos player Thanasis Antetokounmpo. The remarks were made after Panathinaikos beat archrival Olympiacos in a Euroleague game last week.
Tsoukalas, who is known for his foul mouth and provocative statements, referred to the Panathinaikos player as a “monkey”, generating strong reactions in social media and the press. It should be noted that both Antetokounmpo brothers play for Greece’s national team.
The Milwaukee Bucks star defended his brother and slammed Tsoukalas in a tweet he sent on Thursday. After apologizing to his brother for his response to Tsoukalas that would bring his brother to the media forefront, he wrote that, “If this can happen to Thanasis who represents the Greek national team and Panathinaikos with pride and a smile, I cannot imagine what other people of color face in Greece.”
“I am extremely sad and disappointed, but we will not allow negative comments to change this family and our love for the country where we grew up. My brothers and I are proud to be Greek-Nigerian and if anyone doesn’t like it, that’s their problem,” Giannis Antetokounmpo wrote on Twitter.
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