LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Kentucky athletic director Mitch Barnhart tweeted that "there will be consequences" for a Wildcats fan shown in videos yelling a racial slur at a Tennessee fan near the end of the Volunteers' upset victory over the No. 6 Wildcats.
Ethan Williams tweeted a video of himself yelling at Kentucky fans as they left Rupp Arena near the end of Tuesday night's 81-73 Tennessee victory. Williams' video and another from a spectator seated in the same row show a woman, who identified herself as Ashley Lyles to Lexington TV station WLEX, who stopped and yelled the slur as she left.
Lyles apologized in a statement released by the TV station in which she called her reaction "unacceptable, period." The apology added, "My words were hurtful and hateful and have no place in this world. I apologize to the University and state of Kentucky for the embarrassment I have caused. I want my apology not just to be in words, but in actions moving forward."
Barnhart said Wednesday night in a series of posts on his Twitter account that an incident like the one that occurred at Rupp "has no place at the University of Kentucky." The AD added that while the person in question is not a season-ticket holder, "there are still ways to ensure those actions are not repeated at future UK events."
Barnhart tweeted that the school has reached out to the fan who was the target of this "abusive and inexcusable language" to apologize personally. Barnhart added, "That's not who we are as an athletics department."