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.
What do you think?
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(Photo Source: Mario Testino for GQ Magazine)
