Rajon Rondo has been trying to rehab his image but it took another major blow.  The Sacramento Kings point guard was suspended for one-game after an investigation revealed he launched homophobic slurs at an NBA referee.  That veteran referee Bill Kennedy has now come out to the public, revealing that he is gay.

“I am proud to be an NBA referee and I am proud to be a gay man,” Kennedy told Yahoo Sports on Sunday night. “I am following in the footsteps of others who have self-identified in the hopes that will send a message to young men and women in sports that you must allow no one to make you feel ashamed of who you are.”

Kennedy ejected Rondo with consecutive technical fouls during the Kings loss to the Boston Celtics on Dec. 3 in Mexico City.  Rondo did not follow league protocol which required him to immediately leave the court.  Instead he began following Kennedy, who had retreated to a far sideline of the floor.

In the game officials’ report used as part of the NBA’s investigation, Kennedy and fellow referee Ben Taylor described Rondo’s post-ejection diatribe as including the statements: “You’re a mother——- faggot. … You’re a f—— faggot, Billy.”

Seham reported that a third official, Bennie Adams, outside of hearing distance, “affirmed that Rondo aggressively pursued referee Bill Kennedy and had to be restrained by teammates and escorted off the floor by Sacramento team security.”

Rondo took to his Twitter account and apologized.

*photos in gallery above*

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