The Indian Wells CEO Makes Sexist Comment About Female Tennis Players
By Jasmine Smith
Before the women's final of the BNP Paribas Open in March, Indian Wells CEO Raymond Moore spoke at a press conference where he used the opportunity to say some very misogynistic things.
"If I was a lady player, I’d go down every night on my knees and thank God that Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal were born, because they have carried this sport," Wells said. He also commented on the physical attractiveness of many of the female prospects saying there are a lot of attractive women to assume the mantle after Serena Williams retires.
Williams responded by saying, "Get on your knees, which is offensive enough, and thank a man, which is not -- we, as women, have come a long way. We shouldn't have to drop to our knees at any point."
Williams also brought notice to how popular her and her sister, Venus Williams have made the sport. “If I could tell you every day how many people say they don’t watch tennis unless they’re watching myself or my sister, I couldn’t even bring up that number. So I don’t think that is a very accurate statement," she said.
Although Moore later apologized, he ultimately resigned as CEO upon the outrage from his comments.
Before the women's final of the BNP Paribas Open in March, Indian Wells CEO Raymond Moore spoke at a press conference where he used the opportunity to say some very misogynistic things.
"If I was a lady player, I’d go down every night on my knees and thank God that Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal were born, because they have carried this sport," Wells said. He also commented on the physical attractiveness of many of the female prospects saying there are a lot of attractive women to assume the mantle after Serena Williams retires.
Williams responded by saying, "Get on your knees, which is offensive enough, and thank a man, which is not -- we, as women, have come a long way. We shouldn't have to drop to our knees at any point."
Williams also brought notice to how popular her and her sister, Venus Williams have made the sport. “If I could tell you every day how many people say they don’t watch tennis unless they’re watching myself or my sister, I couldn’t even bring up that number. So I don’t think that is a very accurate statement," she said.
Although Moore later apologized, he ultimately resigned as CEO upon the outrage from his comments.
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Journalist's Facebook Post of Being Slut-Shamed Goes Viral |
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Indian journalist Aishwarya Subramanian's Facebook post about her encounter with a auto rickshaw driver has been shared more than 2,000 times with many people rushing to her defense.
See what she wrote below:
"He looks at me for a second and says - 'please don't mind me but what you are wearing is inappropriate.' I stand there shocked. Then he gets out of the auto to tell me why I shouldn't be dressed like a slut (I am wearing a white summer dress that reaches my knee). A few men gather as I take pictures. One man who has gathered tells me that the auto driver is right. Apparently a girl who lives in a society like mine should be dressed more modestly and like a woman. I am about to start crying at this point. This is the first time I have been so publicly slut shamed."
After two men come out of a store to her defense she says, "I walk away feeling shell shocked and ashamed."
Since Subramanian posted photos of the driver many people insinuated that she was also committing a form of public shaming.
She responded by saying, "Since there are those who think I posted this without this man's consent (thereby insinuating that I am the one who's publicly shaming someone). Here's the real deal: I actually asked his permission before taking his picture and posting it on social media! He said that he wanted "his message" out because the country will agree with him and not me. I gave him far more respect than he did me. Please please don't think these pictures exist here without consent. I have it! And given how skewered the Indian mentality sometimes can be, I actually think he has a point when he says that there will be people agreeing with what he had to say."
She continued to address her embarrassment of the way her country treats women.
"You want to know why we fight for our dignity? Because even the clothes we wear makes us sluts. What is the point in being a girl in this country anymore? I feel so embarrassed. My building's guard was standing right there as these men called me a slut for wearing the clothes I wore," Subramanian said. "This is who I am. These are the clothes I wear. Everyone else can fuck off. Anyone can share this post. I am done feeling ashamed for being me."
See what she wrote below:
"He looks at me for a second and says - 'please don't mind me but what you are wearing is inappropriate.' I stand there shocked. Then he gets out of the auto to tell me why I shouldn't be dressed like a slut (I am wearing a white summer dress that reaches my knee). A few men gather as I take pictures. One man who has gathered tells me that the auto driver is right. Apparently a girl who lives in a society like mine should be dressed more modestly and like a woman. I am about to start crying at this point. This is the first time I have been so publicly slut shamed."
After two men come out of a store to her defense she says, "I walk away feeling shell shocked and ashamed."
Since Subramanian posted photos of the driver many people insinuated that she was also committing a form of public shaming.
She responded by saying, "Since there are those who think I posted this without this man's consent (thereby insinuating that I am the one who's publicly shaming someone). Here's the real deal: I actually asked his permission before taking his picture and posting it on social media! He said that he wanted "his message" out because the country will agree with him and not me. I gave him far more respect than he did me. Please please don't think these pictures exist here without consent. I have it! And given how skewered the Indian mentality sometimes can be, I actually think he has a point when he says that there will be people agreeing with what he had to say."
She continued to address her embarrassment of the way her country treats women.
"You want to know why we fight for our dignity? Because even the clothes we wear makes us sluts. What is the point in being a girl in this country anymore? I feel so embarrassed. My building's guard was standing right there as these men called me a slut for wearing the clothes I wore," Subramanian said. "This is who I am. These are the clothes I wear. Everyone else can fuck off. Anyone can share this post. I am done feeling ashamed for being me."