NFL quarterback Cam Newton came under fire on Wednesday after he appeared to dismiss a female reporter’s question based on her gender.
During a Carolina Panther’s press conference at Bank of America Stadium in North Carolina, Newton was asked a routine question about offensive schemes by the Charlotte Observer’s Jourdan Rodrigue.
Newton, in reply, appeared to condescend to the female reporter, saying: ‘It’s funny to hear a female talk about routes.’ Newton then takes a pause before repeating ‘it’s funny’.
Charlotte Observer beat reporter Jourdan Rodrigue (pictured) said she felt ‘dismayed’ and ‘belittled’ following the exchange
Following the press conference, Rodrigue took to Twitter to express her concern over the comments
Carolina Panthers star quarterback Cam Newton (pictured) appears to have ‘belittled’ a female reporter for asking a routine question
Following the news briefing, Rodrigue, who covers the Panther’s beat for the Observer, expressed her dismay at Newton’s treatment via Twitter.
‘I don’t think it’s ‘funny’ to be a female and talk about routes. I think it’s my job,’ she wrote.
She later revealed on Twitter that she had confronted Newton, 28, on his comments following the conference, adding that the situation only deteriorated from there.
She neglected, however, to divulge details of their conversation.
‘I spoke with him after and it was worse,’ she wrote. ‘I chose not to share, because I have an actual job to do today and one he will not keep me from.’
In response, Carolina Panther’s spokesperson Steven Drummond released a statement saying that the star quarterback was remorseful for his choice of words.
Rodrigue said that she confronted Newton about the comments following the press conference, saying ‘it was worse’ after speaking with him
Carolina Panther’s spokesperson Steven Drummond later said that the two had spoken once again, claiming that Newton had expressed ‘regret’ over his statements
‘I have spoken with Jourdan and Cam and I know they had a conversation where he expressed regret for using those words,’ Drummond said.
‘We strive as a department to make the environment for the media comfortable for everyone covering the team,’ he added.
However, NFL.com analyst Ian Rapoport later tweeted a reply by Rodrigue on the matter, revealing that Newton had yet to apologize for his behavior.
‘This afternoon, I did my job as NFL beat writer and asked Cam Newton a question about one of his receivers,’ Rodrigue said.
‘I was dismayed by his response, which not only belittled me but countless other women before me and besides 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.’
A representative for the Carolina Panthers was not immediately available for comment on the matter.
Rodrigue, however, said that Newton never apologized for the comments following a brief exchange