Serena Williams Slams ATP-WTA Tournament Director For Sexist Comments
Source: ROBYN BECK / Getty
Serena Willams came off a loss at ATP-WTA in Indian Wells, California, to confront the sexist comments of the director of the tournament.
Raymond Moore made a speech before the tournaments began, with some unsettling comments about the female players in the game:
“In my next life when I come back I want to be someone in the WTA, because they ride on the coattails of the men,” Moore said. “They don’t make any decisions and they are lucky. They are very, very lucky. 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. They really have,” New York Times reports.
Excuse me sir, what?
Williams wasn’t having any of it. During her post match news conference, the tennis star took the podium to blast Moore:
“I don’t think any woman should be down on their knees thanking anybody like that,” she said. “I think Venus, myself, a number of players — 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.”
“I think there is a lot of women out there who are very exciting to watch. I think there are a lot of men out there who are exciting to watch. I think it definitely goes both ways.”
“There’s only one way to interpret that,” she said. “ ‘Get on your knees,’ which is offensive enough, and ‘thank a man’? We, as women, have come a long way. We shouldn’t have to drop to our knees at any point,” she continued.
“You look at someone like Billie Jean King who opened so many doors for not only women’s players but women’s athletes in general,” Williams said. “So, I feel like that is such a disservice to her and every female — not only a female athlete but every woman on this planet — that has ever tried to stand up for what they believed in, being proud to be a woman.”
Way to read him for filth, Serena.
We’re glad Serena stood up for herself and women everywhere. Moore later issued an apology for his statements.
AM BUZZ: Rihanna Stunned By Fan At Concert; Netflix To Pay $90M For Will Smith Movie & More… was originally published on hellobeautiful.com
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