Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton created a controversy with his response to a question from Charlotte Observer Panthers’ beat writer Jourdan Rodrigue on Wednesday. Rodrigue asked about receiver Devin Funchess embracing the physicality of his routes, and if Newton enjoyed seeing him hit people. Newton said “It’s funny to hear a female talk about routes”, then further repeated “it’s funny” with a grin after a dead silence before then talking about Funchess a bit:
The full video is available here, with Rodrigue’s question starting around 6:40. Here’s the transcript of her question:
So Cam Newton said… this today https://t.co/k3kAZGEsOD pic.twitter.com/dyaFqZDFFZ
— Jay Willis (@jaywillis) October 4, 2017
Rodrigue took exception to Newton’s response on Twitter:
I don't think it's "funny" to be a female and talk about routes. I think it's my job.
— Jourdan Rodrigue (@JourdanRodrigue) October 4, 2017
And she received plenty of support from other female NFL writers and reporters:
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
Me too, Jourdan. Keep kicking ass.
— shalise manza young (@shalisemyoung) October 4, 2017
Every female sports reporter has encountered a neanderthal like Cam Newton over the course of her career. They go low. We go high.
— Andrea Adelson (@aadelsonESPN) October 4, 2017
Rodrigue also said she talked to Newton afterwards and “it was worse”:
I spoke with him after 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.
— Jourdan Rodrigue (@JourdanRodrigue) October 4, 2017
Others weighed in to criticize Newton:
To say that in response to a legitimate question for @JourdanRodrigue is so backwards and disrespectful to her and to women
— Jonathan Jones (@jjones9) October 4, 2017
Wondering if anyone can explain to me what is so funny about a “#female talking about routes”??? #Panthers #CamNewton #Equality ?! #NFL pic.twitter.com/D7lqMmn1KG
— Bridget Condon (@BridgetABC11) October 4, 2017
The thing about the Cam Newton comment is that women reporting on sports is not new, and hasn’t been for some time. Bizarre
— Brandon Larrabee (@BecomingBrandon) October 4, 2017
Today, Cam Newton really said that "It's funny to hear a female talk about routes.” And looked like he actually thought it was funny. pic.twitter.com/P0Z97Y3YHm
— Sean Wagner-McGough (@seanjwagner) October 4, 2017
This is not a good look at all for Newton, and it brings up flashbacks of some of the spurious arguments against women in locker rooms that have been made over the years against reporters like Claire Smith. Rodrigue was doing her job and asked Newton a reasonable question. For him to be dismissive based on her gender is problematic, and it shows some of the issues women in sports media still have to contend with.
[Jonathan Jones on Twitter]
