Tennessee lawmaker sorry after video shows apparent attempt to ‘pants’ referee
Johnson City, Tenn. (WJHL) — A high-ranking Republican lawmaker in Tennessee was kicked out of a high school basketball game after apparently trying to pull down a referee's pants in a captured video brawl.
State Representative Jeremy Fasson issued a public apology Tuesday night, acknowledging he "acted a fool" and "made him want to fight me."
It happened during Providence Academy's home game in Johnson City against Lakeway Christian Academy, the school Faison's son attends.
Just before the confrontation, the video shows players jostling for a loose ball before being torn apart by the referee. Two players, one from each team, are assessed a technical fault for the same sporting conduct. Then Faison takes the court.
According to a report from the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association, when Fayson was asked to leave the court, he became hostile and said, "You can't ask me to leave the floor, it was your fault."
The report said Faison caught one of the referee's pants while trying to pull them down. The attempt failed.
Since 2019, Faison has been the House caucus chair for Republicans, who have supremacy in both legislative chambers. The GOP caucus president is one of the most influential positions in the House.
Faison issued an apology for the outrage on social media on Tuesday night.
"For years I wondered how wrong it is when a parent loses their temper at a sporting event," Faison wrote. "It's not Christian and it's not mature and it's embarrassing to the child has always been my view."
"Unfortunately, I played a fool tonight and lost my temper at the referee. I wanted him to fight me. Totally lost my junk and [sic] got booted from the gym. I never really got my temper." Not lost but I did tonight and it was totally stupid of me. Feelings that get in the way of rational thought are never good. I hope I can find the referee and apologize to him. I was wrong. "
The WJHL contacted Faison, but did not receive a response by the time of publication.
