Friday 6 October 2017 12:04, UK
Cam Newton has apologised for comments made to a female reporter, saying they were "extremely degrading and disrespectful" and that he realised that the "joke is on me".
The Carolina Panthers quarterback faced mounting criticism after his dismissive response to a question from Charlotte Observer reporter Jourdan Rodrigue during a news conference on Wednesday.
In a video he posted on his Twitter account on Thursday night, Newton said he regretted saying what he did.
"I understand that my word choice was extremely degrading and disrespectful to women. And to be honest that was not my intentions. If you are a person who took offence to what I said then I sincerely apologise to you," Newton said.
"During this process, I lost sponsors and countless fans. I realise the joke is on me
"Don't be like me," he urged young fans. "Be better than me."
Newton landed in hot water after remarking that it was "funny to hear a female" ask a question about passing routes.
The Panthers quarterback smirked after Rodrigue asked about receiver Devin Funchess' ability to run physically demanding routes.
Rodrigue criticised Newton's reply in several posts on social media.
"I don't think it's 'funny' to be a female and talk about routes. I think it's my job," Rodrigue wrote on Twitter.
Newton has since lost an endorsement deal with yoghurt-maker Dannon. The company said on Thursday they were "shocked and disheartened by the quarterback's comments and behaviour towards Ms Rodrigue".
Rodrigue said that she spoke with Newton in private after the press conference and was not satisfied with his response.
But she has also been forced into issuing a public apology herself after racially offensive tweets she made some years back surfaced online.
