Cam Newton Faces Backlash After Sexist Remarks About Female Reporter

Cam Newton has landed himself in hot water after a series of comments that were perceived as sexist.

Cam Newton Comments on Female Reporter

During a press conference on Wednesday, the Carolina Panthers quarterback laughed and said he found it “funny” to hear a female reporter from the Charlotte Observer named Jourdan Rodrigue talk about routes.

“It’s funny to hear a female talk about routes like — it’s funny,” said Newton. The QB’s remarks came after a question from Rodrigue about whether he enjoyed Panthers wide receiver Devin Funchess embracing the physicality of routes.

“I don’t think it’s ‘funny'” to be a female and talk about routes,” Rodrigue later tweeted. “I think it’s my job.”

Rodrigue then added in response to a fan’s question that she only felt worse after she confronted Newton about his comment.

Panthers director of communications Steven Drummond said in a statement that he talked to both Rodrigue and Newton “and I know they had a conversation where he expressed regret for using those words. We strive as a department to make the environment for media comfortable for everyone covering the team.”

Rodrigue, however, claimed Newton never apologized for his remark.

“Newton said she wasn’t really seeing specific routes when watching the game, she was just seeing if somebody was open,” the Observer reported. “She argued that he didn’t know what she saw nor how hard she had studied football, and that maybe the two of them needed to have a deeper conversation.

The NFL also released a statement saying: “the comments are just plain wrong and disrespectful to the exceptional female reporters and all journalists. They do not reflect the thinking of the league.”

Other sports organizations like the Association for Women in Sports Media and the Pro Football Writers of America also lambasted Netwon’s remark.

BleacherReport reported on Thursday that Newton had lost a sponsorship with yogurt company Dannon because of his remarks.

This is not the first time in his career Newton has left a bad impression on reporters. After the Panthers lost to the Broncos in Super Bowl 50, he cut short his media session.

The Panthers (3-1, 2nd in NFC South) defeated the New England Patriots 33-30 and next visit the Detroit Lions on Sunday.

SEATTLE, WA – DECEMBER 04: Quarterback Cam Newton #1 of the Carolina Panthers celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field on December 4, 2016 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)