Rielly on Tuesday wanted to send the message that racial, sexual or homophobic language of any kind needs to be eliminated, whether it be inside a hockey arena, in a schoolyard, or on the street.
"I think it's an opportunity for us as a team to realize that there's really no place for slurs like that in sport and in life," Rielly said. "And moving forward I think it's important that we realize that."
Earlier Tuesday, NHL senior vice president of hockey operations Colin Campbell revealed that a League investigation cleared Rielly of any wrongdoing. Less than two hours after the ruling was made public, Rielly and general manger Kyle Dubas held a press conference to deliver the Maple Leafs' strong stance on inclusion and LGBT rights (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender).
Dubas said the Maple Leafs' policy is that slurs of any kind will not be accepted.
"It's incumbent on us in management to build an environment if someone were gay, or were questioning their sexual orientation, that they don't feel that they have to come in here and be somebody that they're not," Dubas said. "And that we can create an environment where even if they don't come out, if they are gay, that they still feel safe within the confines of our building.
"That's really the hope, is that people see that we support it, we understand that it is a challenge for people to potentially come out if they are gay, but our goal as an organization ... is that it's more about the environment that we're creating for everybody."
Rielly approached Maple Leafs brass two weeks ago and offered to march in Toronto's Gay Pride Parade on June 23. Dubas has marched in the event in past years.
"I think it's important because there's lots of people that have very hard times and struggle with this," Rielly said. "It's important to support one another. There's been examples over time of this team taking part in that, Kyle especially. When leadership supports something, the players follow.
"You know it's not just in sports that this is important, but within our lives it happens every day. It's important we're sensitive to it and we're aware of it."
The incident in question came late in the second period when a microphone on the television broadcast appeared to capture a homophobic slur. Social media was quick to accuse Rielly, the thought process being that he had peered at Meier after he was hooked without a penalty being called.
Rielly arrived home after the game to learn he'd pretty much been found guilty on the internet. He immediately returned to Scotiabank Arena to chat with Dubas.
"Your first reaction is, you want to make a statement to help yourself, to make it clear that what's being alleged isn't true," Rielly said. "But after meeting with Kyle, we felt that it was important to let the process play out. It was difficult, because the issue is extremely serious, (but) I was confident that it would work out because I know what I said, or didn't say. I think that was the right move, to let the League go through their channels. It was a long evening, but I'm glad that it worked out."
Dubas said he hopes something positive can come from all this.
"In talking to Morgan, I don't think the team or Morgan are victims at all," Dubas said. "I don't want it to be perceived Morgan feels that way or that the team feels Morgan was slandered. I think some people rushed to judgement, and that's what happens in 2019. But there are a lot of people in our community and people we know, people who have family members, and they are affected by homophobia every single day in our community and all throughout the world.
"Every time it's even thought that those type of words are uttered in our facility or anywhere, we have to do our part as Toronto Maple Leafs to use this situation to continue to do our part to rid casual homophobia, vulgar homophobia, things that make people of any sexuality or sexual orientation feel uncomfortable and unsafe in our facilities. In talking to Morgan, he's of the same mind, and that's where we stand on it today."
