Cam Newton has “expressed regret” for his response to a female reporter’s question at a news conference Wednesday, a team spokesman said.
When Charlotte Observer reporter Jourdan Rodrigue asked Newton about wide receiver Devin Funchess’ route running, the former league MVP smiled and said, “It’s funny to hear a female talk about routes. It’s funny.”
After Newton’s comments, the quarterback proceeded to answer Rodrigue’s question.
READ MORE: Panthers QB Cam Newton after NFL season opener: ‘It’s not fun getting hit in the head
Carolina spokesman Steven Drummond said in a statement to the Associated Press that Newton had a conversation with Rodrigue after the news conference ended and expressed regret for his remarks.
Rodrigue released a statement through the Charlotte Observer via email saying that Newton did not apologize when they spoke after the news conference.
She said she “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.”
The quarterback released an apology on his Instagram page on Thursday, more than a day after he made the comments.
WATCH: Cam Newton apologies for ‘sexist’ comments made towards female reporter
READ MORE: Panthers QB Cam Newton walks out of Super Bowl post-game press conference
NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said Wednesday night in a statement that Newton’s comments “are just plain wrong and disrespectful to the exceptional female reporters and all journalists who cover our league. They do not reflect the thinking of the league.”
WATCH: Cam Newton ‘made a mistake’ with comments: Panthers head coach
Drummond said the Panthers “strive as a department to make the environment for media comfortable for everyone covering the team.”
Mike Persinger, the executive sports editor of the Charlotte Observer, said Newton’s comments were “unfortunate and out of line.”
“The question Jourdan asked during the news conference was a good one, like countless other questions about football strategy and nuance she has asked in the course of doing her job,” Persinger said.
Rodrigue joined the Charlotte Observer as a Panthers beat reporter last year.
She wrote on Twitter, “I don’t think it’s ‘funny’ to be a female and talk about routes. I think it’s my job.”
“Offensive” tweets from reporter surface
However, on Thursday Rodrigue faced backlash of her own after she was accused of making offensive and racist comments in tweets she posted several years ago.
“The earth moves at 450+ mph that’s 10 times triller than NASCAR Dale Earnhart’s a (expletive) (racial slur),” she wrote in a tweet posted in May 2013, which was re-shared widely.
In August 2013, Rodrique described her father as being “the best” and making “super racist” jokes as they drove through “Navajo land.”
That same month Rodrigue attacked Newton directly in a tweet.
“Of course Cam hasn’t been acting like a little turd in interviews; he was just in the middle of a huge win streak!! Let’s see tonight’s QA,” she wrote.
Rodrique issued an apology Thursday on Twitter.
Sponsor cuts ties over “sexist” comments
Dannon, the maker of Oikos yogurt, cut ties with Newton on Thursday.
Company spokesperson Michael Neuwirth released a statement saying it was “shocked and disheartened” at the former league MVP’s behaviour and comments toward Rodrigue.
The Dannon statement noted the company perceives Newton’s comments as “sexist and disparaging to all women. … It’s simply not OK to belittle anyone based on gender. We have shared our concerns with Cam and will no longer work with him.”
WATCH: Cam Newton responds to anthem protests
-With files from Global News.
Comments