Who Is Jourdan Rodrigue? Cam Newton Should Apologize To Reporter, Twitter Urges

Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton did not apologize to Charlotte Observer writer Jourdan Rodrigue after he laughed at her for asking about the route-running of his teammate Devin Funchess . But that didn’t stop Twitter users from urging the NFL star to issue a public mea culpa. Others, however, argued Newton did not have anything to be sorry for.

For her part, Rodrigue didn’t tweet that she wanted an apology, but she expressed her problem with Newton’s reaction to her question. “I don't think it's ‘funny’ to be a female and talk about routes. I think it's my job,” she wrote Wednesday. The post was liked more than 88,000 times and shared over 20,000 more.

Newton grinned when Rodrigue said “routes” and let out a giggle. When Rodrigue finished her question he said, “It's funny to hear a female talk about routes. Like, it's funny.”

While the quarterback apparently didn’t take the writer seriously, she’s a Carolina Panthers beat reporter for The Charlotte Observer. She’s been at the publication for more than a year. “I write everything from day-to-day updates on the Panthers to longform features and profiles, as well as cover breaking news, have an active social media platform and presence and create video recaps and other multimedia content to comprehensively cover my beat,” she explained in her LinkedIn account.

Before that, she was a football beat reporter for Penn State. “I write everything from day-to-day updates on Penn State football to longform features and profiles, as well as cover breaking news, have an active social media platform and presence and create video recaps and other multimedia content to comprehensively cover my beat,” she said. “I also cover a variety of sports for the Centre Daily Times as needed, including basketball, baseball, hockey and wrestling.”

Rodrigue has a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Arizona State University. She graduated in 2014.

Even though Newton didn’t apologized, he apparently “expressed regret for using those words,” Panthers director of communications Steven Drummond said in a statement to ESPN Wednesday.

“This afternoon, I did my job as an NFL beat writer and asked Cam Newton a question about one of his receivers. I was dismayed by his response, which not only belittled me but countless other women before me and beside me who work in similar jobs,” Rodrigue said, according to ESPN. “I sought Mr. Newton out as he left the locker room a few minutes later. He did not apologize for his comments.”

On Thursday afternoon, Yogurt-maker Dannon announced that it had cut ties with Newton.

“We are shocked and disheartened at the behavior and comments of Cam Newton towards Jourdan Rodrigue, which we perceive as sexist and disparaging to all women,” Michael Neuwirth, senior director of external communications for Dannon, told USA Today in an email. “It is entirely inconsistent with our commitment to fostering equality and inclusion in every workplace. 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.”

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