Kentucky State Police apologizes for controversial Twitter joke about rape

Kentucky State Police apologized Sunday after receiving backlash for a tweet that joked about prison rape in an attempt to deter drunk drivers.

KSP posted the statement Sunday night to its Twitter account, which has more than 50,000 followers.

"Making light of sexual assault is never acceptable, and we apologize for the distress this tweet caused, particularly to the victims of these heinous crimes," the statement said. "KSP is committed to protecting against sexual assault and fighting for justice for victims."

The statement said the tweet came from one employee and does not represent all state police.

Background: Kentucky State Police tweet rape joke tied to the Super Bowl

The original tweet, which was deleted shortly after Courier Journal called for a comment about it, was tied to the Super Bowl.

"Enjoy watching Rob Gronkowski (TE) play but if you drink & drive ... your tight end may end up in jail!" the tweet said.

Attached was a slow-motion gif of a bar of soap hitting the ground.

The implication is "don't drop the soap," a crude reference to an inmate making himself vulnerable to anal rape.

Allegations of rape in prisons are passed on to the facility staff, then later to KSP if they are criminal in nature, according to the Prison Rape Elimination Act.

Reporter Thomas Novelly contributed to this story.

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