Rodgers speaks for first time since being accused of ‘informal sexism’

Celtic supervisor Brendan Rodgers refused to apologise after being accused of informal sexism for saying ‘good lady’ to BBC reporter Jane Lewis. 

Speaking on Tuesday for the primary time since his terse interview with Lewis, for which he was branded a ‘dinosaur’ in some quarters, Rodgers revealed he has spoken to the reporter and blamed society for the backlash. 

He stated: ‘I’ve spoken to Jane and she or he wasn’t offended, we had fun about it. She’ll proceed to ask me awkward questions I’m certain, however I see her each week. We’ve bought good relations, like I’ve with most individuals in my life, whether or not that is skilled or social.’

‘So I discover it saddening as a lot as something, I’m not that kind of individual, it is not who I’m or how I’m constructed. But sadly for society now, individuals are simply trying and looking for methods to someway convey you down if they’ll and that is not good.’ 

On Tuesday, Lewis herself additionally broke her silence, saying: ‘Clearly, the interview on Sunday has turn into a speaking level. I do not imagine there was any offence meant by Brendan Rodgers – and individually, there was none taken.’ 

Brendan Rodgers (left) was accused of informal sexism after saying ‘good lady’ to BBC reporter Jane Lewis following a terse trade after Celtic’s win over Motherwell 

The 51-year-old Rodgers added reiterated that he didn’t really feel he was at fault and didn’t tackle the ‘good lady’ comment instantly.

‘Obviously sadly for me I feel now in society, the place individuals want to discover one thing that’s offensive to attempt to pin onto individuals,’ he continued. 

‘You guys up right here, any journalist or reporter, I’ve all the time based mostly my life on relationships so I’ve all the time supplied a heat, respect, being courteous and supplied time to individuals. That won’t ever change. 

‘Obviously when there was that little bit that was on the market, or massive bit, no matter it was, then I really feel the necessity to tackle that. I cope with individuals in life, whether or not it is gamers, wanting them to turn into higher, individuals within the media.

‘The irony of all of it is, and I shared this with gamers not way back, the story of Jessica Watson, who was a younger lady, 16, who travelled around the globe solo on a ship and the documentary I watched was actually inspiring. ‘True Spirit’ it was referred to as and I shared that with the gamers by way of the inspiration they may take from a younger lady like that, what she’d been via.’

Campaigners on the For Women Scotland organisation accused the Celtic boss of ‘informal sexism after he stated ‘good lady’ to Lewis following a terse trade in an interview after Celtic’s win over Motherwell on Sunday.

In the video of the trade, since launched by the BBC on TikTok, Rodgers seems to pat Lewis after his ‘good lady’ remark, earlier than strolling off to abruptly finish the interview.

Lewis, 53, had requested Rodgers to elucidate himself after he instructed her: ‘In phrases of the title race, the story has already been written about this group, however we’ll write our personal story.’ When she requested him to elaborate, he appeared sad with the road of questioning and stated: ‘No, no, you recognize precisely what I imply.’

Lewis once more pressed Rodgers to elucidate, however he appeared to wind up the interview and stated: ‘Done, good lady, effectively finished.’ 

Lewis, a broadcast skilled with a long time of expertise, has not commented on the matter and is considered unfazed.

Campaigners at For Women Scotland referred to as on Rodgers to apologise.

A spokeswoman stated: ‘It’s miserable that informal sexism remains to be embedded in sport. Women’s achievements are underrated and dismissed, and their skilled standing undermined. Rodgers owes the reporter an apology.’ 

Meanwhile, former Hibs participant Tam McManus described Rodgers’ feedback as ‘completely embarrassing’ on X, previously referred to as Twitter.

Legendary broadcaster Jeff Stelling was left aghast on the Celtic supervisor’s ‘good lady’ comment.

Speaking on TalkSPORT, he stated: ‘Good lady, good lady? Goodness me, Brendan. What does he imply?’

Experienced broadcaster Lewis, who has beforehand labored for Sky News, Sky Sports, Eurosport and STV’s Scotland Today programme, was focused by social media trolls after Sunday’s trade.

Lewis has coated main sporting occasions such because the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro and the Commonwealth Games when staged in Glasgow and on Australia’s Gold Coast.

She studies on European and World Cup qualifiers with the Scotland nationwide soccer group in addition to protecting Scottish home soccer and European video games involving its golf equipment.

Lewis beforehand defended herself towards criticism from Celtic supporters. In December 2021, she was presenting Sportsound on BBC Radio Scotland when Celtic gained in then 97th-minute away at Ross County.

It sparked a mass pitch invasion by Celtic followers, with these on social media of the opinion Lewis was upset on the essential late winner and the response.

Lewis tweeted on the time: ‘I’m barely baffled that some appear to get extra pleasure out of my “apparent hurt” than their group profitable a soccer match.

There was loads of backing for Lewis on social media following Rodgers’ remark 

‘Just for the file, I’m not ‘rattled’, ‘hurting’, ‘bitter’ or ‘deflated’…’

Rodgers is below stress amid a good title race with arch-rivals Rangers within the Scottish Premiership.

Rangers beat Hearts 5-0 on Saturday to maneuver 5 factors away from Celtic on the prime however their late objectives at Motherwell reduce the hole again to 2 factors.