Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has said he is “sad for society” after being criticised for saying “good girl” to a female reporter during an interview.
Rodgers, 51, has claimed people are trying to “bring him down” after he was accused of showing “casual sexism” by campaign groups For Women Scotland and the Scottish Feminist Network.
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He made the comments to BBC reporter Jane Lewis after his side won 3-1 at Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday.
What was said in the interview?
Rodgers was pressed by Lewis, 53, after he said: “The story has already been written about this group, but we will write our own story.”
Lewis replied: “Can you give us a bit more — you don’t want to give us a bit more insight into that and what you mean?” Rodgers responded: “No, no, you know exactly what I mean,” but the journalist added: “I’m actually not sure exactly what you mean.”
Rodgers then appeared to abruptly end the interview with the words “Done, good girl, well done.”
What has been the response to Rodgers’ words?
For Women Scotland demanded after the match that Rodgers apologise to Lewis after showing “casual sexism”.
A spokeswoman at For Women Scotland said: “It’s depressing that casual sexism is still embedded in sport. Women’s achievements are underrated and dismissed, and their professional status undermined. Rodgers owes the reporter an apology.”
The Scottish Feminist Network said it was a “demeaning comment” and added “we thought dinosaurs were extinct”.
A spokeswoman for the group said: “Rodgers’s throwaway comment encourages other football fans to behave in a similar way, demeaning women they work with or engage with. It has to stop.
“Jane Lewis was just doing her job, trying to extract an explanation from Brendan Rodgers on his cryptic comment. That the go-to attitude of a manager of a winning team was condescension is quite illuminating but really very depressing in 2024. We thought dinosaurs were extinct.”
On Tuesday, Lewis issued the response: “Clearly, the interview on Sunday has become a talking point. I don’t believe there was any offence meant by Brendan Rodgers – and for my part, there was none taken.”
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How did Rodgers react to the criticism?
Rodgers said he was “saddened” by the reaction to his words and did not issue an apology.
“I will address it because I’ve been aware of it. Sadly, for me, in society now, we are either looking to offend or find something that is offensive to try to pin onto people,” Rodgers said on Tuesday.
“I think any journalist or reporter, or anyone in media, I’ve always based my life on relationships, I’ve always offered a warmth, respect, being courteous, and giving time to people, and that will never change. So obviously when there was that little bit that was out there, or big bit, however it was, then of course I feel the need to address that.
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“Like I said, I deal with people in life, whether players – relationships with them and wanting to make them better — or people in the media. I’ve spoken to Jane and she wasn’t offended. We had a laugh about it, she will continue to ask me awkward questions, I am sure. But I see her every week and we have good relations like I have with most people in my life, whether that’s professional or social.”
Rodgers then added how he had used the example of a woman as a story to “inspire” his Celtic squad.
He added: “The irony of it is, I shared with players not so long ago the story of Jessica Watson, the young woman of 16 years of age who travelled around the world solo on a boat — the documentary I watched was really inspiring. True Spirit it was called. I actually shared it with the players in terms of the inspiration they can take of a woman of that age, what she’s been through and everything else.
“So I find it saddening as much as anything, because I’m not that type of person, I could never be that, it’s not how I’m built. But I’m also sad for society now, because people are looking and trying to find ways to somehow bring you down if you can. And it’s not nice.”
What next for Celtic?
Celtic, who are second in the Scottish top-flight and two points behind Glasgow rivals Rangers, return to league action on Wednesday night with a home match against Dundee.
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(Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)