Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton apologized on Thursday for “extremely degrading and disrespectful” remarks he made to a female reporter during a press conference. 

Newton posted a video on Twitter apologizing for saying that it’s “funny to hear a female talk about routes” to Charlotte Observer reporter Jourdan Rodrigue at a Wednesday news conference.

“After careful thought, I understand that my word choice was extremely disrespectful to women,” Newton said in the video. “And to be honest, that was not my intention. If you are a person who took offense to what I said, I sincerely apologize to you.” 

{mosads}The quarterback reportedly did not initially apologize to Rodrigue when she later confronted him after the press conference. 

“The fact that during this whole process I’ve already lost sponsors and countless fans, I’ve learned that the joke is really on me,” Newton said in his apology video. “I’ve learned a valuable lesson from this. And to the young people who see this, I hope you learn something from this as well. Don’t be like me; be better than me.”

Dannon Oikos Yogurt yanked a sponsorship from the player for its new advertisements, saying that they would no longer use Newton in the commercials after what they called his “sexist” remarks.

Newton said that he aims to be a “positive role model” and that he takes responsibility for his influence behind the remarks. 

“And to the reporters, to the journalists, to the moms — super moms — to the daughters, sisters and women all around the world: I sincerely apologize and hope that you can find the kindness in your heart to forgive me,” he said in the video statement.