Cam Newton loses Dannon endorsement over sexist comment

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Panthers quarterback Cam Newton has appeared in commercials for Dannon yogurt. He won’t anymore.

Multiple reports say Dannon has decided no longer to work with Newton after he told a female reporter yesterday that he thinks it’s funny to hear a woman ask about football.

Newton has still not apologized, almost 24 hours after making the sexist comment to Charlotte Observer reporter Jourdan Rodrigue.

“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,” Dannon’s statement said. “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.”

The NFL has also condemned Newton’s remark, but the Panthers have released only a pro forma statement that was disputed by Rodrigue. Newton’s other sponsors, including Under Armour and Gatorade, have been silent.

92 responses to “Cam Newton loses Dannon endorsement over sexist comment

  1. Danon also gives money to Trump campaign. Aren’t they worried about the despicable comments made by Trump about women? Talk about hypocritical!

  2. This is what I figured was gonna happen. The league and the team definitely wouldn’t fine or suspend him, nor should they. But I figured he would lose some endorsements

  3. I’m sure Under Armor is ecstatic about one of their brands’ faces basically laughing at females in the sports business.

  4. I’d be more willing to give him the benefit of the doubt if he had any sort of apology or followed up with her to explain himself. We’ve all said things we didn’t realize were easy to take the wrong way, but most people when called out on it would be quick to clarify. He has not. At all.

  5. steveo305 says:
    October 5, 2017 at 12:26 pm
    What happened to his first amendment rights? Freedom of speech?????

    ——————-

    When it’s the government and not the fans/team/sponsors punishing him let me know.

  6. steveo305 says:
    October 5, 2017 at 12:26 pm
    What happened to his first amendment rights? Freedom of speech?????

    _______________

    For only the 1000th Time.

    Freedom of speech has nothing to do with Freedom Consequences from said Speech.

  7. pantherpro says:
    October 5, 2017 at 12:25 pm
    Danon also gives money to Trump campaign. Aren’t they worried about the despicable comments made by Trump about women? Talk about hypocritical!

    ———————

    I don’t know if this is true or not, but lots of corporations give money to political candidates. It’s how business is done. Regardless, there is a big difference between donating money to a political campaign vs. paying someone to hock your product on TV.

  8. steveo305 says:
    October 5, 2017 at 12:26 pm
    What happened to his first amendment rights? Freedom of speech?????

    —————

    This old, tired argument again? This has absolutely nothing to do with freedom of speech. He can’t be jailed for what he said i that is where freedom of speech ends. Reprimands, discipline by his employer, lost endorsement deals, public rebuke, fan boycotts – all that is still very much on the table.

  9. “steveo305 says:
    October 5, 2017 at 12:26 pm
    What happened to his first amendment rights? Freedom of speech?????”

    Why don’t you say something like that to a female coworker at your job and see what that freedom of speech gets you.

  10. We need to boycott products that hang their endorsements over peoples heads and withdraw them over silly nonsense !

  11. “Freedom of speech” is taken way out of context these days.
    It was written as a way to protect citizens from the government.
    Not to protect people clocked in at a job.
    Not to protect consumers from the companies they give money and time to.
    Not to use a political arguing tool.

    It was meant so that you could question your government without fear of being thrown into jail. It was meant to protect our freedoms to assemble and report in the news without consequence from a government that may not like our opinion or view of them.

  12. “Belichick ruined it for everyone”

    Extremely hard work and innovation used to be respected in this country. Now because the other teams don’t want to work as hard Bill has “ruined it for everyone”

    SMH

  13. Anyone who purchases a product because they like the celebrity they use to endorse it is an idiot.

  14. How quaint. He can spit on the flag and get Goodell’s (and Dannon’s) applause, but everybody else is off-limits

  15. Extremely hard work and innovation used to be respected in this country. Now because the other teams don’t want to work as hard Bill has “ruined it for everyone”
    =====

    Monopolies aren’t good for anyone.

  16. There’s the power of boycotting, kiddies. Remember that the next time you’re all blustering about kneeling.

  17. aarons444 says:
    October 5, 2017 at 12:48 pm
    What happened to the NFL?
    =====

    Belichick ruined it for everyone.

    Well, I cab guarantee you, Belichick would not have answered the question the way Cam did.

  18. I bet this female reporter also knows that when the ball is fumbled and is laying on the ground you’re suppose to try to recover it.

  19. stevo305, once again, freedom of speech is not freedom from consequences!

    I am free to call my boss an incompetent moron with no talent; he is equally free to call me an unemployed loudmouth with no holiday bonus.

    And if you would stop indignantly flapping around your Constitution for two seconds and actually </read the Second Amendment, you’d finally realize only th government can deprive you of your freedom of speech:

    “Congress shall make no law…”

    Come on, man; it’s in the first five words! Can you please at least respect it (and those who’ve died or been wounded trying to protect it) enough to spend a few minutes reading it before screaming demands of what you feel it entitles you?

  20. Interesting…

    puffnstuff5005 says:
    October 5, 2017 at 12:51 pm
    Welcome to America. Land of the thought police.

    ——————-

    If Cam kneels in protest he is disrespecting the flag to some and peacefully protesting to others.

    If Cam says something sexist the thought police are on his case to some and to others it’s appalling.

    In both cases he’s exercising his right to free speech and expression.

  21. You know it’s a Marketing decision by Dannon, some Don Draper podunk suit wearing gent just crunched the numbers, and the comp[uter spit out, we drop them now and our name gets mentioned 100k times for free… Morons your bus is leaving…

  22. It must suck to be so weak that words actually hurt you!! My mom was the toughest human being I ever saw… of either gender!!! She would have laughed at Newton and carried on with her job!!

  23. delhommed says:
    October 5, 2017 at 12:24 pm
    No more dannon for my family. So sick of over sensitive society… and I don’t like cam

    So sick of over sesistive society claiming to stop buying products over things like this. If my endorser does something that pisses off the magority of my consumers why should I keep him?

  24. delhommed says:
    October 5, 2017 at 12:24 pm
    No more dannon for my family. So sick of over sensitive society… and I don’t like cam

    Why are all the people who whine about everyone being too sensitive sooo sensitive???

    ” Who cares about Derek Zoolander anyway? The man has only one look, for Christ’s sake! Blue Steel? Ferrari? Le Tigra? They’re the same face! Doesn’t anybody notice this? I feel like I’m taking crazy pills!”

  25. steveo305 says:
    October 5, 2017 at 12:26 pm
    What happened to his first amendment rights? Freedom of speech?????

    ————

    He exercised it….. And Dannon exercised theirs as well. The free market has spoken.

  26. delhommed says:
    October 5, 2017 at 12:24 pm

    No more dannon for my family. So sick of over sensitive society… and I don’t like cam

    ——————————————————

    Uhh- so you are so “sick of an over sensitive society” and your cure is to over react? Because boycotting Dannon over this story is, well, the definition of over sensitive reacting!

    Whew!

  27. aarons444 says:
    October 5, 2017 at 1:14 pm
    Extremely hard work and innovation used to be respected in this country. Now because the other teams don’t want to work as hard Bill has “ruined it for everyone”
    =====

    Monopolies aren’t good for anyone.

    Not surprisingly you’re confusing monopoly with excellence. Monopoly would have been true if NE had won the SB every year since BB arrived.

    But look on the bright side, you have been graced with 17 years of reasons to troll.

  28. theroc5156 says:
    October 5, 2017 at 1:10 pm
    Anyone who purchases a product because they like the celebrity they use to endorse it is an idiot.

    +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    Yeah, can you imagine if Michael Jordan ever endorsed a footwear product.

  29. What he said was certainly bone headed. Unfortunately for Cam, he plays football at a time where moral outrage is a bigger business than even the NFL. This is why most players and coaches speak from worn out scripted phrases that are bland and void of any personality. What’s ironic is if Cam had decided to kneel during the national anthem, people would describe his actions in heroic terms. The social justice warriors are always watching and the NFL is all too happy to cater to their whims, which is why the NFL is slowly eroding its fan base.

  30. Not surprisingly you’re confusing monopoly with excellence.
    =====

    Consider it a compliment.

    Your guys are so good, if not for Aaron Rodgers, I wouldn’t be watching at all.

  31. ”Who cares about Derek Zoolander anyway? The man has only one look, for Christ’s sake! Blue Steel? Ferrari? Le Tigra? They’re the same face! Doesn’t anybody notice this? I feel like I’m taking crazy pills!”
    =====

    ‘You know what would help you sort through these important issues?’

    ‘ORANGE MOCHA FRAPPUCCINO!’

  32. He should’ve just said a bunch of terrible stuff about white guys like Jamele Hill did and then nobody would care…

  33. Those quoting “free speech” on here fail to realize that Cam in fact did exercise his right to free speech. What people fail to understand about free speech is that sometimes there are consequences to what you say.

    All the first amendment protects is your right to say it, not the reaction received from said words

  34. Hopefully a male reporter will ask him a question about losing this deal, and he’ll laugh and say it’s weird to hear a man ask him a question about yogurt…

  35. This situation is the definition of fake outrage. Nobody really cares what Newton just said. It’s just social media/social justice BS.

  36. Could care less about what he said, and nor do I think he should apologize. And I’m pretty sure he could care less what anyone thinks, including his sponsors, as he laughingly counts the millions and millions he’s made! Move on from non-issues

  37. “What happened to his first amendment rights? Freedom of speech?????”
    ____________

    Hilarious how many people have absolutely zero idea what the First Amendment actually does. And rather than get educated they keep running around showing off their ignorance.

  38. If I am paying someone a significant amount of money to endorse a product, and they say something this dumb, I’m dropping them.

    It honestly would more to do with what they said in this case, but they had such a lack of foresight and judgement to make such a bad decision. AKA, I want to work with people with a brain and there are plenty more professional athletes around.

  39. Gene Tracy would never have a chance in this day. His “truckstop” recordings made fun of everybody. Race, religion, sex, or disability were all targets. He once said if we all could learn to laugh at each other, maybe we would learn to accept each other for what we were.
    Not bad for an old country boy.

  40. Not a Newton fan… But I hardly see his remark as sexist. It IS really unusual (kinda funny) to be talking pass routes and patterns with a girl.

  41. When will NFL players learn — the best answer to every reporter’s question is, “I’m only here because I have to be” delivered in a Marshawn deadpan. Some in the media make their money by asking the question that elicits a controversial response. And even if the response is not controversial, they’ll twist it to make it sound so.

  42. This is nothing more than a public smearing campaign. This is why Pop and Belichek dont say anything to the media. This is exactly why.

  43. OH the IRONY!

    “Let’s boycott Dannon because I am tired of people being too sensitive”

    ok, mr sensitive.

    And yeah, it was a dumb, sexist comment. He was given multiple chances to make this better, and he didn’t. What a moron.

  44. Can’t stand Newton, but I am with him all the way on this and the YOGAT people should be ashamed of themselves. Do you remember when Tiger Woods talked, he basically said the same thing every time. People are going to get more and more guarded in what they say. I always find it strange when all you see on the telly are good looking women talking football and wonder if there are less attractive women that could hold there own with any ex player but never get a chance because they are not the eye candy the tv people would want. I think it utterly pathetic that a little fun can upset so many people.

  45. All of you complaining about “sensitive society” are the softest of all.

    What do you care if a corporation chooses to cut ties with an athlete who says something stupid? You’re Charmin soft.

    Also, I find it ironic that Cam made that comment when we finally have women breaking into the coaching ranks in both the NFL and NBA.

  46. It’s time to switch yogurts (try Yoplait; it’s better). Cam make a ridiculous statement about women. Of course what he said was wrong. But, people say dumb things sometimes. He apologized. Dannon’s kneejerk reaction to withdraw their sponsorship is lunacy. The self-absorbed Antonio Brown makes a spectacle of himself on national TV disrespecting coaches, teammates and fans. He offered a belated half-hearted apology…..so he’s good. Several US men’s national World Cup Team members were kicked out of EPCOT for cutting in line, berating park guests and confronting security guards. A lame apology was offered….and now they’re good. Where’s the balance? To me, Cam is being unfairly victimized.

  47. imaduffer says:
    October 5, 2017 at 1:31 pm
    I bet this female reporter also knows that when the ball is fumbled and is laying on the ground you’re suppose to try to recover it.
    ———————————————–
    And there it is!! I wish she had been quick enough to comeback with that. His reaction would have been priceless!!!

  48. It’s funny to imagine some people going to the grocery store, and contemplating whether a brand is either too PC or not caring enough about social issues. Life doesn’t really need to be that serious.

  49. @bobdecker6: “A lame apology was offered” – lame or not, it was an apology. I don’t think what he said was horrible, but it was clearly insensitive and If Cam had simply come out and said he misspoke, or used the wrong phrasing and apologized, this would be a non-issue entirely. If you inadvertently hurt someone’s feelings is it asking too much to apologize for it?

    For those saying the money doesn’t matter to him, don’t know how money works. There’s a reason most NFL players end up going broke a decade after they leave the league. Their expenses are excessively high, for both legitimate and boneheade reasons, but the best way to keep your income higher than your expenses post-career is to secure endorsements that keep the money rolling in long after you’re gone. Favre still making bank from Wranglers, manning and Montana from their endorsements.

    Cam’s blunder and lack of foresight is going to cost him tens of millions in the long run. His agent should be begging him to apologize post-haste.

  50. Cam is just immature. He’s proved that many times when putting a towel over his head after losing games. Is anyone really surprised by his behavior at this point? He’s certainly not a leader that the QB position requires for consistent production in the NFL.

  51. steveo305 says:
    October 5, 2017 at 12:26 pm

    What happened to his first amendment rights? Freedom of speech?????
    _______________________________________

    Maybe you don’t understand the First Amendment. No one abridged Cam Newton of his right to say what he elected to say. And Dannon in turn exercised their right by pulling his endorsement.

  52. steveo305 says:
    October 5, 2017 at 12:26 pm
    What happened to his first amendment rights? Freedom of speech?????
    _________________

    He exercised his right to free speech and the sponsor exercised their right to disagree with his free speech and invoke the morality clause that Cam Newton signed…Sponsorship over!!

  53. In support of Cam, I’ll never buy another Dannon product. When my wife sends me to the store for Dannon Yogurt, I’ll “accidently” get the wrong brand.

  54. What a joke. They cut him for the same reason Buick cut Tiger Woods. Tiger want selling Buicks and Cam wasn’t selling yogurt. He didn’t move the need, it was a dumb move to begin with. But rest assured Cam will be alright. Now there maybe a charity or two that wont see a donation, but that life.

  55. blacksheep62 says:
    October 5, 2017 at 1:40 pm
    It must suck to be so weak that words actually hurt you!! My mom was the toughest human being I ever saw… of either gender!!! She would have laughed at Newton and carried on with her job!!

    ———–

    I think that’s exactly what she did actually. Doesn’t make it ok to demean someone in their work place.

  56. Funny thing is that if he had said “it’s great to get a question about receivers from a woman” with a smile on his face, he’d be held up high by the same groups tearing at him. It’s all in the context. Hopefully he, and all players, learn

  57. You know, hockey season just started, and this stuff never happens in hockey, mostly because the players aren’t famous enough for anyone to care what they do outside the rink. 95% of Americans would not recognize Connor McDavid if he sat on their couch. Hockey has always been my favorite sport, and lately I’m really appreciating that it isn’t mainstream enough for these things to become a big deal.

    Basketball and football are too popular, so they’ve basically become soap operas in which the league is just the setting because the fan base is big enough that you can just pander to the lowest common denominator. How many times do we need to read about what Russell Westbrook’s tweet may or may not have meant to Kevin Durant, or whether Kyrie Irving texted Lebron James? Or whether Antonio Brown has apologized for his most recent act of idiocy? You never hear about Filip Forsberg’s personal communications, because most people don’t know he exists.

  58. It was surely a silly comment, but I don’t really know how it can be construed as ‘sexist’.

    Those who do the construing in matters such as this make a good living being offended by just about anything, and the ‘writers’ are afraid to tell them to take a hike.

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