In the middle of Tuesday night’s game against the San Antonio Spurs, Kobe Bryant called referee Bennie Adams a “fu#king f–got.” The five-time NBA champion, Bryant, was fined $100,000 for the slur by the NBA commissioner. The NBA labeled Bryant’s slur as “inexcusable” homophobic language used against a referee.

“The comment that I made, even though it was not meant as what it’s perceived to be, is nonetheless wrong,” Bryant said on ESPN radio. Bryant told ESPN radio he’s appealing the fine, saying he was frustrated in the heat of a game.