When an elderly usher stopped three female journalists from entering an NFL locker room this weekend, they took to Twitter to complain about the mistreatment from the “old, out-of-touch geezer.”
According to the Associated Press, a male usher temporarily prevented three female journalists from entering the Jacksonville Jaguars locker room after Sunday’s game in Indianapolis “because they were women.” Cue: Outrage from the journalists and the media.
When Yahoo Sports’ Graham Watson, Tuscaloosa News’ Joey Chandler and Tulsa World’s Katie McInerney tried to enter the locker room after the Jaguars’ overtime loss to the Colts, the usher first asked “other men if it was OK” before he let the women go into the locker room.
According to NBC Sports’ Michael David Smith, NFL policy allows all credentialed media “access to the locker rooms after games.” But a Colts spokesman revealed to the Guardian that the usher didn’t know who was allowed in.
“I was stunned. I was angry,” Watson told the Indianapolis Star. “He should not be working the door of an NFL locker room.”
Together, she and Chandler took to Twitter to express their outrage:
I was just blocked from a locker room by an old, out-of-touch geezer who wasn't sure women were allowed because "you know how guys are."
— Graham Watson (@Yahoo_Graham) October 4, 2015
This guy was an usher and apparently not aware that women cover sports. I about lost it. @Colts @Jaguars
— Graham Watson (@Yahoo_Graham) October 4, 2015
I have covered male sporting events all over the world and it took coming to Indianapolis to face my first gender discrimination. @NFL
— Graham Watson (@Yahoo_Graham) October 4, 2015
I do want to note that we did eventually get in and we were able to do our job after the man asked several males if it was OK if we got in.
— Graham Watson (@Yahoo_Graham) October 4, 2015
When getting ready to enter Jags locker room with other APSE female fellows, old man tried to deny us entry. It's still 2015, right?
— Joey Chandler (@Joey_TNews) October 4, 2015
But they weren’t alone. The media joined in the temper tantrum.
“Three Female Sports Reporters Weren't Allowed To Do Their Job At The Jaguars-Colts Game” read one Huffington Post headline while another writer noted the “discriminatory treatment.”
Women’s sites Cosmo and Jezebel also wrote on the encounter, with Cosmo noting the “real kicker”: the female journalists were at the game as part of the Associated Press Sports Editors media diversity weekend.
The public relations staff from both the Colts and the Jaguars apologized to the female journalists.
Want to note that both @Jaguars and @Colts PR apologized.
— Graham Watson (@Yahoo_Graham) October 4, 2015
Yes, female journalists should have the same opportunities as male journalists. But it’s also understandable why an usher might become confused when women try to enter a men’s locker room – and it’s anything but professional to respond by calling him an “old, out-of-touch geezer.”
