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Floyd Mayweather called 'homophobic goblin' for shaming young fan with painted nails

Witnesses said Mayweather posed for pictures with others but turned a young man apparently because of his manicure choices

Boxing legend Floyd Mayweather disappointed his fans after he refused to take a picture with a teenager during a recent basketball game because he had his nails painted black. The incident, which was filmed, took place when a teenage fan of Mayweather approached him for a selfie during the NBA fixture between the Clippers and the Grizzlies at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Saturday, October 23. Mayweather remains one of the world's most celebrated sports stars even after he retired from professional boxing following his defeat of UFC fighter Conor McGregor in 2017 -- a perception which may have now changed for at least one of his fans. 

"You got painted nails, I don't take pictures with guys with no painted nails," Mayweather can be heard saying in the video clip. Mayweather's bodyguards can be seen pushing him away. Visibly disappointed, the young fan says, "Floyd doesn't want to take a picture with me because my nails are painted. Bruh, really?". Witnesses told TMZ that Mayweather, 44, comfortably posed for pictures with other fans, turning down this particular young man apparently because of his manicure choices. 

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'He draws the line at painted nails on men?

Social media users quickly took to Twitter to slam Mayweather for his actions. "Floyd Mayweather raised a girl that is currently faces felony charges for stabbing a girl over her baby daddy—that has like 14 other children. But draws the line at painted nails on men? Grow up, @FloydMayweather. Hell, SPELL ‘painted nails’, you illiterate homophobic goblin," one user wrote. "FRAGILE MASCULINITY STRIKES AGAIN: Floyd Mayweather Refuses Photo With Fan Due To Painted Nails – "I Don’t Take Pics With No Guys With Painted Nails"," wrote another. 

"@FloydMayweather you are a of piece s*** a man painting his nails doesn’t always have to do with his sexuality. I.e @travisbarker @OzzyOsbourne @machinegunkelly the list goes on, maybe that fan was gay but WHO CARES!! Fuckin asshole! #FloydMayweather #FuckFloydMayweather," wrote one user, while another wrote, "Is that like people have a choice to paint there nails? And you rejected an autograph because of that? So in a sense you stripped him of his right to express himself while showing his likeness to your boxing character?". "@FloydMayweather won't take a picture with fan who has his nails painted but will sure pay up to get your ex back Boi desperate not to be alone lol your gonna be the next one canceled no joke you a fake inspiration to people #CancelFloydMayWeather," said one user.

However, there are fans who also came to the boxer's rescue stating that he was no way obliged to pose with the young fan. "His body, his choice. This man can choose whoever he wants to take pics with. It’s not homophobic," said one social media user. To which one user replied "It’s not homophobic that he declined to take a picture but what does make it homophobic is that he decided not to take one because he had on nail polish." There were others who said, " He honestly doesn’t have to take a picture with anyone he doesn’t want to even though he could have just said no and left it at that." 

Another stated: "Not condoning Mayweather's words, but lets normalize seeing celebrities and being okay with just seeing them." One user shared: "Yeah well, he didnt want him touching him with painted nails. respect his space and decision. Its harassment ....isnt it? Its his choice."

On a previous occasion, Floyd was involved in an incident at a Las Vegas mall on Thanksgiving eve in which one of his fans was beaten up allegedly by a member of his security team, when he approached the champion boxer for a photo. The fan said that the beating was so bad that he had to subsequently go to a hospital for a CT scan. Fortunately, no brain injuries were revealed.