The Texas Association of Sports Officials (TASO) has suspended one of its top officials for the entire 2019 season after a tape surfaced of him making racist comments.

Per a report from the Houston Chronicle, Mike Atkinson — a longtime football referee — has been suspended after he used the N word in a conversation that was recorded by the other party.

In a statement, Atkinson said he did use the words, but added that he was joking and may have picked up the language from BET:

“I know what it sounds like when you hear those clips,” he said. “But I’m talking to (the person who made the recordings) in a private conversation, and he’s using the word, and I said it a couple times.

“I’m a jokester. I like to listen to things. I watch Black Entertainment Television all the time because I think it’s hilarious. I may have picked up something … I don’t know. I don’t know.”

TASO issued a statement on the suspension of Atkinson, saying that he’d be disciplined for using the language whether he was joking or not:

“TASO classifies the former member’s actions as unethical and unprofessional,” the statement read in part. But it also condemned what was said, noting: “Members who make racially insensitive remarks reflect badly on TASO and the vast majority of TASO members find those remarks repugnant. TASO has and will take disciplinary action against any member displaying any racial prejudice by words or deeds. TASO will discipline any member though they claim they made the inappropriate remarks in jest.”

A recording of the conversation that led to Atkinson’s suspension can be found in the Houston Chronicle report. Obviously, it contains NSFW and offensive language.