An American professional wrestler promised to get violent over gay marriage.

Pro athlete Jay Briscoe sent a violent and homophobic tweet the day after Delaware became the 11th state in the US to legalize same-sex marriage.

Briscoe, who wrestles under the Ring of Honor (ROH) company, wrote on his personal Twitter account: ‘The Delaware Senate passed a bill yesterday that allows same sex couples to get married. If that makes you happy, then congratulations!!!!!!

‘Try and teach my kids that there’s nothing wrong with that and I’ll fucking shoot you.’

Briscoe has since apologized for his comments, which were filmed and posted on YouTube.

This is not the first time Briscoe published a homophobic message. In June 2011, he tweeted: ‘Damn theres a lot of fags out in New York today #WhatTheFuck.’

ROH released a statement distancing the company from the homophobic comment, and announcing that a portion of Briscoe’s salary would be donated to Partners Against Hate.

ROH wrote: ‘Ring of Honor and Jay have agreed that he will donate his full pay from the next two Ring of Honor events to the Partners Against Hate charitable organization. Partners Against Hate was created to help prevent, deter, and reduce juvenile hate-related behavior.

‘Ring of Honor Wrestling respects and appreciates every fan regardless of age, gender, race, religion or sexual preference. The recent post by Jay Briscoe does not represent the views or opinions of Ring of Honor Wrestling, its owners, management or employees.’

‘Jay Briscoe’s latest homophobic outburst on Twitter should not only embarrass ROH management, but also the whole wrestling industry,’ wrote Keith Harris for online sports network SB Nation.

‘It’s one thing to politely disagree with gay marriage, quite another to say that you would commit acts of violence on anyone who teaches your children that it’s OK.’