Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton has lost his sponsorship deal with Dannon, and the yogurt company will no longer use the player in their advertising.
“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,” the company said in a statement to ESPN. “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 company said.
Despite Dannon’s statement, Newton’s representative Carlos Fleming of WME/IMG told NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport that “Dannon has not terminated the agreement, nor do they have grounds to.”
Spoke with IMG/WME’s Carlos Fleming, who works with Cam on marketing: “Dannon has not terminated the agreement, nor do they have grounds to”
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 5, 2017
“The agreement has not been terminated. However, we will no longer work with him and are removing advertising with him in it,” Dannon then told James Palmer, also of the NFL Network.
Dannon on Cam:
“The agreement has not been terminated however we will no longer work with him and are removing advertising with him in it.”— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) October 5, 2017
“It’s funny to hear a female talk about routes,” he told Charlotte Observer beat writer Rodrigue when she asked him about wide receiver Devin Funchess.
However, Rodrigue didn’t see the funny side of it, telling TheWrap in a statement: “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.
“I sought Mr. Newton out as he left the locker room a few minutes later. He did not apologize for his comments,” she added.