Women’s Group, Following Serena Williams, Demands Apology For Sexist Double Standard
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Sunday, September 09, 2018
CONTACT: Brett Abrams | brett@unbendablemedia.com
Women’s Group, Following Serena Williams, Demands Apology For Sexist Double Standard
UltraViolet: “What Happened to Serena and Osaka was Shameful”
At Saturday’s US Open Women’s Finals, chair umpire Carlos Ramos accused Serena Williams’ coach of attempting to send her hand signals. Williams denied the accusation of cheating and demanded an apology. When Ramos fined Williams a second time, she again protested, and was further fined, eventually costing her a full game. Williams lost the final to Naomi Osaka, the first Japanese woman to win a Grand Slam event. The three code violations resulted in Serena Williams being fined $17,000.
After the final, Williams remarked at the podium: “I can’t sit here and say I wouldn’t say he’s a thief because I feel like he took the game from me…. I’ve seen other men call other umpires several things and I’m here fighting for women’s rights and women’s equality. And for him to take a game? It made me feel like it was a sexist remark. I mean, like he’s never taken a game from a man because he’s said thief. It blows my mind. But I’m gonna continue to fight for women.”
Shaunna Thomas, co-founder of UltraViolet, a leading national women’s rights organization, issued the following statement in solidarity with Serena Williams, demanding Carlos Ramos apologize for his sexist double standard, and that the United States Tennis Association revoke fines for code violations:
“Last night, the world watched sexism in action, on live TV, as chair umpire Carlos Ramos repeatedly fined and punished Serena Williams in her US Women’s Open final against Naomi Osaka. Williams was right to defend herself against accusations of cheating and injustice, and we applaud her for calling out the inherent misogyny in Ramos’ actions. We support Williams, and demand that chair umpire Carlos Ramos apologize. The United States Tennis Association, which praised Williams after the finals, should put its money where its mouth is, and revoke the $17,000 in penalties levied against Williams for these sexist, unfair calls.
“What happened to Serena and Osaka last night was shameful, but unfortunately, it happens to women across the country every single day: they are punished for speaking their mind and calling out sexism. We must do better.”
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