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Carolina Panthers: Cam Newton’s comments sexist, out of place

ByRebecca Mills|
FOXBORO, MA - OCTOBER 1: Cam Newton
FOXBORO, MA - OCTOBER 1: Cam Newton

Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton laughing at a female reporter’s question was an out-of-touch and shocking display of sexism.

Coming off a win against New England, the Carolina Panthers are rightfully feeling somewhat of a high. No one more than their quarterback Cam Newton. He fought off early-season struggles for a big game to top the Patriots.

However, Newton went a step too far on Wednesday during a press conference by making a sexist comment to a female reporter.

The comment proved how out of touch Newton is with his own sport, the media and culture in 2017:

For those who haven’t heard, the quarterback responded to a female reporter’s question about Devin Funchess running routes, which he thought was laughable because a woman was asking a question about routes. The icing on the cake is Newton’s expression and the smirk he gets on his face. It’s almost as if he was expecting other men in the room to laugh. None of whom did, thankfully.

The comments are obviously sexist because he said “a female.” Let’s be real here, he would never say that to a guy. He wouldn’t question any of the male reporters because “men know football”. But there’s where Newton screws up.

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He upholds the old stereotype of women not being able to understand football or women only watching football because of their father, brother, boyfriend or potential boyfriend. It’s insulting on so many levels for the reporter, but to women in journalism and women in general.

She was legitimately there to do her job and came prepared with apt questions. She wasn’t there as just a female — she was there as a reporter, getting paid to do her job. That’s what blows my mind the most, because he is questioning a reporter, someone who is paid to cover his team and write about his performances.

It’s also almost unfathomable that he assumed others would find it funny. It’s almost like he pauses to wait for someone to laugh. It’s infuriating, but extremely telling. As a quarterback in the NFL, he doesn’t even know how far women in sports media have come and still are.

Does Newton not realize Beth Mowins is a color commentator for NFL on ESPN? Did he not realize Jen Welter and Kathryn Smith were both coaches in the NFL? Does he not realize women are writing, talking, Tweeting and spending hours of their lives dedicated to sports? It’s such an insult to not only the reporter, but other female professionals in sports media. It proves as far as women have come, they still need to go further. While nothing about this situation seems positive, there is a small silver lining.

Even with Newton’s refusal to apologize, it’s created a great environment for women in sports media on Twitter. Women are using their voices to combat his remarks and show they’ve earned their place among their male counterparts.

While Newton’s comments are sexist and out of place, they are ultimately not anything new. There will always be a man or men, somewhere, trying to discredit women. Sexism in sports has run rampant for years and it’s thriving even now, but the good thing is women aren’t going anywhere. Female members of sports media won’t let Newton’s comment discourage them. If anything, it will encourage them to be even louder and prouder of their knowledge and love of sports. I know I will be.

The NFL has since released statements via Twitter about Newton’s comments, accosting Newton’s comments and, by proxy, the quarterback:

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Maybe Cam Newton can learn a lesson from the ladies in sports media. Learn to be more open-minded and get a thicker skin, because us ladies love sports and we’ll continue to cover and talk about them.

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