Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton has been called sexist after he laughed at a female reporter Wednesday afternoon during the team’s press conference. ”
“It’s funny to hear a female talk about routes,” he told Charlotte Observer beat writer Jourdan Rodrigue when she asked him about wide receiver Devin Funchess.
“You take a lot of pride in seeing your wide receivers play well. Devin Funchess has seemed to really embrace the physicality of his routes, and getting those extra yards,” Rodrigue asked. “Does that give you a little bit of an enjoyment, to see him kind of truck sticking people out there?”
“It’s funny to hear a female talk about routes like — it’s funny,” Newton said, shaking his head and laughing before answering her question.
However, Rodrigue didn’t see the funny side of it, telling TheWrap in a statement: “This afternoon, I did my job as an NFL beat writer and asked Cam Newton a question about one of his receivers. I was dismayed by his response, which not only belittled me but countless other women before me and beside me who work in similar jobs.
“I sought Mr. Newton out as he left the locker room a few minutes later. He did not apologize for his comments,” she added.
Following the uncomfortable interaction, she also tweeted: “I think it’s my job” to talk about routes, which is a pattern or path that an NFL receiver takes to become open for a pass.
https://twitter.com/JourdanRodrigue/status/915682599326162945?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.espn.com%2Fnfl%2Fstory%2F_%2Fid%2F20916366%2Fcam-newton-carolina-panthers-laughs-female-reporter-media-session
In replying to another user’s comment, Rodrigue said she confronted the quarterback after the press conference, “and it was worse.”
“I chose not to share, because I have an actual job to do today and one he will not keep me from,” she said.
https://twitter.com/JourdanRodrigue/status/915683363675090944?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.espn.com%2Fnfl%2Fstory%2F_%2Fid%2F20916366%2Fcam-newton-carolina-panthers-laughs-female-reporter-media-session
“I have spoken with Jourdan and Cam and I know they had a conversation where he expressed regret for using those words,” Panthers spokesman Steven Drummond said in a statement tweeted by NFL Network reporter Ian Rapoport.
“We strive as a department to make the environment for media comfortable for everyone covering the team.”
A statement from #Panthers spokesman @StevenJuston, on Cam Newton’s remarks at today’s press conference pic.twitter.com/pJJ5frtFjx
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 4, 2017
The team did not immediately respond to TheWrap’s request for comment.
However, on Twitter, many women are saying they’ve been in the same position as Rodrigue and are cheering her on.
1, it wasn't funny. 2, wasn't a joke, was a comment that he doesn't think women are as qualified to talk about basic sports concepts as men.
— Melissa Santos (@MelissaSantos1) October 4, 2017
there are not enough angry face emoji faces in the world. Keep kicking ass, we've got your back.
— Lindsay Jones (@bylindsayhjones) October 4, 2017
We’ve all been there, sadly.
Doesn’t make it fair or right. But we hit’em w/ the side eye + keep it moving cause that’s what we do ? pic.twitter.com/6pUQtOTJih
— Kimberley A. Martin (@ByKimberleyA) October 4, 2017
You do a good job. I've been reading your articles on the Panthers since you got to the observer to get an idea of the team.
— Scott Carasik ?????️? (@CarasikS) October 4, 2017
A HUGE number of us in #PantherNation love your work. We've got your back on this. #KeepPounding
— PanthersFan_inAfrica (@PanthersFan_Afr) October 4, 2017
You can watch Newton’s answer in the video above.