*NFL star Cam Newton set off the Internet today over comments he made in the latest issue of GQ suggesting racism is a thing of the past.
In the article, which was posted online this morning, the 27-year-old said he believes people’s dislike of him has nothing to do with the fact that he is African American.
“It’s not racism,” Newton told the magazine. “Everybody’s entitled to their own opinion.”
When asked about a comment he made before Super Bowl 50 — “I’m an African-American quarterback that may scare a lot of people because they haven’t seen nothing that they can compare me to” — Newton replied, “I don’t want this to be about race, because it’s not. It’s not. Like, we’re beyond that. As a nation.”
When pressed about the dislike for him some have, Newton said, “I’ll let you be the judge. I don’t look at it like that. I look at it like some people have certain beliefs, and I have my own belief, and we can agree to disagree on certain things. But this is what makes sports so amazing, that we can start a discussion around a table, in the newspaper, in the magazines, that will get people’s attention. And that’s what sports does.”
Needless to say, Newton is trending on Twitter. Memes followed, along with an overall mix of disbelief and side-eye.
cam newton on race: “We’re beyond that as a nation.” https://t.co/pAzVHXhuxF pic.twitter.com/2Q6PK5wfHZ
— Hunter Hurt Helmsley (@rayze1) August 15, 2016
Calling for a moratorium on all NFL interviews after this Cam Newton feature https://t.co/UUotUrEihO
— Mohammed (@think_B1G) August 15, 2016
Feels like #GQ wanted Cam Newton to be the new Muhammad Ali, he’s not that guy. But this country isn’t beyond racism https://t.co/Rzu4zULZp5
— Dan Pack (@The_Wolfpack75) August 15, 2016
“Beyond that as a nation?”
Where has this new negro been?https://t.co/hx6rW2hmal— Dame (@illaim) August 15, 2016
The one time @CameronNewton needed to have balls. So disappointed. https://t.co/3k5hYvHVZW
— Brittny Habibti (@itsbrittny) August 15, 2016
America will see the color of your skin, Cam, even if you choose to deny it and its importance. It is what it is.https://t.co/2fLGxdvkRb
— Steven Cash (@Cinephile_93) August 15, 2016
Still reading this GQ thing with Cam Newton and his post-race foolishness has me like: pic.twitter.com/fls3X0WM5f
— Bernard Oliver (@boliver36) August 15, 2016
Cam is a class act, trying to elevate dialogue by saying that his detractors aren’t racist.
But many of them are.https://t.co/qAXApP3Bs6
— Larry McDorchester (@McDorchester) August 15, 2016
Save it, Cam. Somebody’s been blinded by their bubble. I hate when people who have transcended race due to their w… https://t.co/n8rBUX4kg2
— MrCedrickAlexander™ (@theCEDproject) August 15, 2016
Read Cam Newton’s full GQ article here.
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