Female reporters blocked at Olympics quizzing Shaun White

Reporters attending Shaun White’s Olympic press conference said he failed to call on any females in the room to ask questions.

One reporter from ESPN, Julie Foundy, shared on Twitter: ‘Interesting. Amy Robach of GMA and Christine Brennan of USA Today both had hands raised entire Shaun White press conference. Not one woman was called on for a question. There were about 8 questions allowed.’ 

According to CNN Money, Communications Vice President Tom Kelly, who was at the conference but was not the one to call on reporters, said he had reached out to Robach and to Brennan to let them know they weren’t deliberately passed over.

White has already apologized for how he fielded a question about sexual assault claims against him from a male reporter during that same press conference.

The Olympic snowboarder apologized Wednesday morning for dismissing questions about sexual assault allegations made against him in 2016 as nothing more than ‘gossip’.  

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‘I’m here to talk about the Olympics, not gossip and stuff,’ the superstar snowboarder said. White is pictured knelt to the ground with overwhelming glee after winning this third gold medal in the sport 

No female reporters were able to ask Shaun White questions during his Olympic press conference 

During the press conference shortly after securing Team USA’s 100th gold medal in Winter Olympics History, White was confronted by reporters trying to ask him about the allegations.

The 31-year-old has been the world’s dominant snowboarder for more than a decade, winning gold medals in 2006, 2010 and again this year in an epic comeback after a disappointing fourth in 2014.  

With White back in the spotlight, details from a 2016 lawsuit by a former drummer in White’s rock band, the Bad Things, were resurrected on social media.

The 31-year-old has been the world’s dominant snowboarder for more than a decade, winning gold in 2006, 2010 and again this year in an epic comeback after finishing fourth in 2014

Despite the impressive run, as White was competing the details from a 2016 lawsuit by a former drummer Lena Zawaideh in White’s rock band, the Bad Things, were resurrected on social media

Lena Zawaideh accused White of sexually harassing her and refusing to pay her wages after he fired her. The lawsuit was settled in May for an undisclosed amount.

During the press conference, White was asked if the allegations might tarnish his reputation.

‘I’m here to talk about the Olympics, not gossip and stuff,’ he said. ‘I don’t think so.’

Reporters attempted to follow up about the lawsuit, but US Snowboarding and Freeskiing Event Director Nick Alexakos shut them down. 

And whether by coincidence or on purpose, not a single female reporter had a chance to ask White a question. 

White celebrating his history-making win in  Pyeongchang but it’s overshadowed by a 2016 lawsuit where Lena Zawaideh accused White of sexually harassing her and refusing to pay her wages after he fired her

White jumps during the men’s halfpipe finals at Phoenix Snow Park. Whether by coincidence or on purpose, not a single female reporter had a chance to ask White a question during the post-win press conference

Speaking with The Today Show’s Savannah Guthrie, White apologized for his language and nonchalant attitude about the sexual harassment claims

White immediately left the stage following the conference while reporters continued throwing questions his way.

‘I have to get to the medal ceremony,’ he said while being ushered away by Alexakos.

However, speaking later with The Today Show’s Savannah Guthrie, White apologized for his language and nonchalant attitude about the sexual harassment claims. 

‘I’m truly sorry that I chose the word gossip, it was a poor choice of words to describe such a sensitive subject in the world today, and I’m just truly sorry,’ he said while clutching his gold medal. 

‘I was so overwhelmed with just wanting to talk about how amazing today was and share my experience.’ 

In the lawsuit, Zawaideh said White repeatedly sexually harassed her, forced her to watch pornography and told her how to get her hair cut. He is pictured just after the impressive win 

Praise for White’s performance in Pyeongchang caught backfire on social media at a time when #MeToo and other movements are calling for more accountability about harassment and abuse. White is pictured at Wednesday’s medal ceremony 

‘Man Shaun White’s career was really ruined by those sexual harassment allegations none of you remember from a mere year and a half ago,’ Danielle Tcholakian, a freelance reporter, wrote on Twitter

In the lawsuit, Zawaideh (pictured in 2013) said White repeatedly sexually harassed her and forced her to watch vulgar pornography including dead animals and fecal matter. He also asked her to cut her hair ahead of a show and told her to stop wearing her ‘trademark’ red lipstick, the lawsuit alleges.

User @Schpantzy said: ‘Big congratulations on everyone on the USA team keeping the secrets of [White’s] sexual harassment under wraps. Must feel good lauding your very own Harvey Winestein of snow [sic]’

In the lawsuit, Zawaideh said White repeatedly sexually harassed her and forced her to watch vulgar pornography including dead animals and fecal matter. He also asked her to cut her hair ahead of a show and told her to stop wearing her ‘trademark’ red lipstick, the lawsuit alleges. 

Court papers also show he made comments like ‘Don’t forget to suck his b***s’ while speaking about her boyfriend. 

The lawsuit included screenshots of text messages allegedly sent by White asking about the haircut and suggesting she wear a provocative outfit. After she refused to get the haircut, she says he sent her a letter to inform her that she had been fired from the band. 

Praise for White’s performance in Pyeongchang caught backfire on social media at a time when #MeToo and other movements are calling for more accountability about harassment and abuse.

‘Man Shaun White’s career was really ruined by those sexual harassment allegations none of you remember from a mere year and a half ago,’ Danielle Tcholakian, a freelance reporter, wrote on Twitter. 

User @Schpantzy said: ‘Big congratulations on everyone on the USA team keeping the secrets of [White’s] sexual harassment under wraps. Must feel good lauding your very own Harvey Winestein of snow [sic].’