Fabio Fognini Makes a Rainbow-attired 'Mea Culpa' For Using Homophobic Term During Olympics

Italian tennis player Fabio Fognini expressed his regret for his homophobic outburst at the recent Olympics by accessorizing with rainbow head and wristbands for a match this past Monday, reported Outsports.

"Fognini, who repeatedly shouted a gay slur during his three-set loss to Russian Olympic Committee player Daniil Medvedev on July 29, had a rainbow headband and two rainbow wristbands."

Two weeks ago Fognini used an offensive Italian homophobic slur repeatedly during the three-set loss to Russian player Daniil Medvedev in the third round, EDGE reported.

Fognini wrote in an Instagram story on July 29 that the extremely hot conditions "affected his head" and that he "used a really stupid expression toward myself."

"Obviously I didn't want to offend anyone's feelings," Fognini added. "I love the LGBT community and I apologize for the nonsense that I let out."

"Fognini is largely�getting pummeled on Twitter�for his attire," added Outsports, "with many users questioning the sincerity of his outfit. Ben Rothenberg, a tennis reporter and freelance writer for the New York Times, captured the crux of the criticism being levied against Fognini: 'Fascinated by what his calculations were to decide that three rainbows was the commensurate remedy,' he�wrote."

Others joined in with comments, which were largely negative, but some took his motivation at face value: