During a game against the Boston Red Sox on September 15, 2012 Escobar was photographed with the phrase "tu ere maricon" (the Spanish equivalent of "you are a faggot") written in his eye black.
Escobar apologized and stated that he didn't intend his usage of maricon to be "misinterpreted" by the LGBT community, it is part of everyday repartee among Latino players where it is not seen as offensive.
Other Latino players defended Escobar as a good person who did not intend offense.

Due to the incident, Escobar was suspended by the Blue Jays for three games and the US$82,000 salary he would have earned in those games was donated to the LGBT advocacy groups You Can Play and the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation.
He also underwent sensitivity training.
During a game against the Boston Red Sox on September 15, 2012 Escobar was photographed with the phrase "tu ere maricon" (the Spanish equivalent of "you are a faggot") written in his eye black. Escobar apologized and stated that he didn't intend his usage of maricon to be "misinterpreted" by the LGBT community, it is part of everyday repartee among Latino players where it is not seen as offensive. Other Latino players defended Escobar as a good person who did not intend offense.
Due to the incident, Escobar was suspended by the Blue Jays for three games and the US$82,000 salary he would have earned in those games was donated to the LGBT advocacy groups You Can Play and the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. He also underwent sensitivity training.
Yunel Escobar