Florida deputy fired after 'monkey' comments, claims it wasn't 'racist'

theGRIO REPORT - A deputy sheriff in Florida is out of a job after admitting to using racist language in an online post...

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A deputy sheriff in Florida is out of a job after admitting to using racist language in an online post.

Former Lee County Deputy Sheriff Jean Lopez was fired in April after he used the term “monkey” in reference to a black male in an online video, reports NBC 2.

According to an internal affairs report, Lopez posted a video on his Facebook page of an African-American business owner talking about his competitors and added the caption: “Can someone please tell me what the [expletive] this monkey is saying?”

He also commented on the video saying: “Get a real life [expletive] monkey.”

“It’s not acceptable and that’s why he’s out of a job,” Lee County Sheriff Mike Scott told NBC 2.

Watch a full report on the Deputy’s ‘monkey’ comments below:

NBC-2.com WBBH News for Fort Myers, Cape Coral

Lopez said he did not use the term in a derogatory manner but rather uses it to reference “stupid or funny stuff.” He admitted to knowing the racial connotations but does not feel he should have been fired.

“It was so far contrary for what we stand for and what I expect for a deputy sheriff that we said bye-bye,” Sheriff Scott said.

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