Misogyny live and direct: Indian Wells CEO forced to apologize for sexist comments about 'attractive lady players' after Serena Williams tears him apart

Photo: Getty Images

Indian Wells CEO, Raymond Moore (pictured), made a hasty apology after his incredibly sexist comments about female tennis players

'there's only one way to interpret that (his statement)'.
'Get on your knees, which is offensive enough, and thank a man, which is not - we, as women, have come a long way. We shouldn't have to drop to our knees at any point.' - Serena Williams

Read Moore's apology after the cut ....

 

 

 

 

  Indian Wells CEO, Raymond Moore, made incredibly sexist comments about female tennis players ahead of BNP Paribas Open     Moore suggested 'lady players' should 'go down every night on their knees and thank God Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal were born'     He claimed the Women's Tennis Association rides on the coattails of men     Superstar Serena Williams slammed slammed Moore for his comments

Indian Wells CEO, Raymond Moore, was forced to make a hasty apology for his incredibly sexist comments suggesting female tennis players should 'go down every night on their knees and thank God' for men tennis players. 

Before the women's final of the BNP Paribas Open, Moore spoke at a press conference where he claimed that both the Women's Tennis Association and its players ride on the coattails of men. 

And Serena Williams heard his comments loud and clear. During a press conference following the tournament, Williams sent a powerful message to Moore over his sexist comments.

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Tennis superstar Serena Williams sent a powerful message to Moore over his sexist comments. In a press conference Williams said: 'I think those remarks are very much mistaken and very, very, very inaccurate'

Photo: AP

Moore (right) went so far as to say that if he were a 'lady player' he would 'go down every night on my knees and thank God Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal were born, because they have carried this sport'. He's pictured with Williams and Victoria Azarenka (left) during the trophy ceremony after Williams lost in BNP Paribas final 

Moore went so far as to say that if he were a 'lady player' he would 'go down every night on my knees and thank God Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal were born, because they have carried this sport'. 

And not to mention his comments about the physical attractiveness of female tennis players. 

He said he thinks the WTA has a 'handful of very attractive prospects that can assume the mantle'.

And when asked by a reporter did he mean physically attractive or competitively attractive, Moore said 'both'. 

He added that these 'attractive' players will be able to assume the mantle once 'Serena decides to stop'.

Williams, who was the 2015 Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year, responded to Moore's comments by saying that she doesn't believe 'any woman should be down on their knees thanking anybody like that'.

In the press conference Williams said: 'I think those remarks are very much mistaken and very, very, very inaccurate.'

When asked if she thinks there could be a misunderstanding about how people are interpreting Moore's comments, Williams said 'there's only one way to interpret that'.

'Get on your knees, which is offensive enough, and thank a man, which is not -- we, as women, have come a long way. We shouldn't have to drop to our knees at any point.'

Legendary tennis player and activist, Billy Jean King, also responded to Moore's comments saying she is 'disappointed'

Williams said that plenty of people have told her that she and her sister, Venus, are the only reasons why people have started watching tennis, which was proved true by the above Twitter user 

Moore's crass comments caused an uproar on social media, with some calling for him to be removed from his position

Photo: Tennis Magazine/Panaromic Actionplus

In the Indian Wells final in California, former world number one Victoria Azarenka (left) took advantage of an error-strewn display by Williams (right) to win her second BNP Paribas Open title with a 6-4, 6-4 victory

The six-time Wimbledon champion said she's still surprised that Moore made those comments as she, Venus and all the other women on the tour have done well. 

'Last year the women's final at the US Open sold out well before the men. I'm sorry, did Roger play in that final or Rafa or any man play in that final that was sold out before the mean's final? I think not.'

Williams added: 'So I just feel like in order to make a comment you have to have history and you have to have facts and you have to know things. You have to know of everything. I mean, you look at someone like Billie Jean King who opened so many doors for not only women's players but women athletes in general.'

Legendary tennis player and activist, Billy Jean King, also responded to Moore's comments saying she is 'disappointed'.

In a tweet King said: 'He is wrong on so many levels. Every player, especially the top players, contribute to our success.' 

Moore's crass comments caused an uproar on social media, with some calling for his resignation.

Williams called Moore's comments 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 and being proud to be a woman'.

In the Indian Wells final in California, former world number one Victoria Azarenka took advantage of an error-strewn display by Williams to win her second BNP Paribas Open title with a 6-4, 6-4 victory.

Moore, who was still prominently featured in both men's and women's trophy ceremonies after the controversy erupted, issued a statement of apology:

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