An incoming college wrestler lost his athletic scholarship after a viral video caught him using an anti-gay slur during a political rally.
Bronson Harmon, 18, showed up to counterprotest a June 30 “Keep Families Together” rally in Modesto, Calif., in response to President Trump’s zero tolerance immigration policy, The San Luis Obispo Tribune News reported this week.
Activist Abdul Lasaing recorded a heated exchange between Harmon and anti-Trump protesters at the event.
“F— you,” Harmon yells, adding a homophobic slur and giving the camera the middle finger.
He is also seen holding a “Donald Trump 2016” campaign sign.
The video posted to Facebook has been viewed more than 47,000 times as of Friday.
{mosads}“I totally regret it,” Harmon said of the slur. “I got caught up in the heat of the moment. I was there to peacefully protest the things that we believe, and people were harassing us, spitting on us and calling us Nazis.”
Harmon’s father was with him at the protest and can be heard yelling “send their asses back.”
Todd Harmon declined to be interviewed by CBS Sacramento but told reporters that California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo has revoked his son’s athletic scholarship.
The school’s communications specialist, Cynthia Lambert, confirmed that Harmon will no longer be on the wrestling team.
“Bronson Harmon will not be a member of Cal Poly’s wrestling team but we cannot comment on any details regarding his status as a student because of federal and state privacy laws,” Lambert wrote to CBS.
He is still planning to attend the school as a student.
Todd Harmon said the family is “devastated” about the scholarship and has hired an attorney.
The family is considering filing a lawsuit against the university for a potential First Amendment rights violation.
Cal Poly Athletic Director Don Oberhelman told the newspaper that the financial aid offer signed by all student athletes says the university can cancel aid for actions that could cause embarrassment to the school.
The Modesto Police Department confirmed to the network that they have recommended filing a misdemeanor battery charge against Bronson Harmon, who allegedly shoved a man into a tree after the protest.
No charges have officially been filed.