Aries Spears Won't Apologize For Michael Sam Gay Joke He Made on ESPN's 'SportsNation'

Comedian Aries Spears made headlines last week when he cracked a gay joke at the expense of Dallas Cowboys defensive end Michael Sam on ESPN's SportsNation — a joke he refuses to apologize for.

"I went out and got my first Michael Sam jersey," Spears said on the show. "It's got 15 S's on the back."

On Monday, Oct. 6, a reporter for TMZ ran into Spears at Los Angeles airport LAX and asked the stand-up comic about the incident.

"I had some fun," Spears told TMZ.

When asked whether ESPN or Sam requested an apology for the wisecrack, which many people found offensive, he said there was no need.

"There's nothing to apologize for," Spears said. "It's a joke. I love everybody, baby."

"They seemed to like it," Spears added of the co-show's hosts, Michelle Beadle and Marcellus Wiley.

It was just the network that may not have loved it so much.

"You know, Disney runs it, so they got their guidelines," Spears said.

The TMZ reporter then went on to ask Spears if he'd like to take the opportunity to say anything to Sam.

"Good luck with the Cowboys," Spears said. "I hope he does well, man. I hope he does well. He's a talented dude."

And as for actually wearing the much buzzed-about jersey?

"Would I wear his jersey? I don't like football, so I don't wear anybody's jersey," he said. "Nah, I'm not a football dude."

Click here to watch the TMZ video. 

Sam was thrust into the spotlight in February when he admitted to The New York Times and ESPN that he was gay. He revealed he had come out to his teammates ahead of the 2013 season and that he had received nothing but overwhelming support.

He made headlines again in May when he became the first openly gay player to get drafted into the National Football League. He was selected by the St. Louis Rams with the 249th overall pick in the seventh round of the 2014 draft. The Rams later cut him, though he ended up signing with the Cowboys's practice squad.