This pro athlete just told a classroom of girls they should be ‘silent and polite’

In a not-so-surprising turn of events, former Seminole Jameis Winston is back in the news for his questionable behavior. This time, it was directed towards a group of elementary school children.

While speaking with a class at Melrose Elementary, Jameis thought he could energize a group of 10-year-olds during his truly predictable speech by having the boys, and only the boys, stand up while repeatedly telling them that men are strong, loud and can do anything they set their mind to.

While this message had seemingly good intentions, it was not intended for the female audience. The only advice he had for the young girls was that “ladies are supposed to be silent, polite and gentle.”

Really, Jameis? Fuck off.

Silent, polite and gentle are the only words you can think of to define women? Women are not strong? Women cannot be loud? Men cannot be soft spoken? Your antiquated misogyny reflects poorly back on everyone you have represented, especially at Florida State – a school you would be nothing without.

I’m not here for it, Jameis. I know you said it was simply just a poor choice of words, and that you had an underlying positive message everyone just casually seemed to miss, but what you were lacking was an apology to all those 10-year-old girls who you just told couldn’t be strong.

Maybe, since you chose to forgo graduation alongside the rest of your peers, you’ve forgotten this university is filled with strong women who work their asses off every day for their degrees and to achieve their goals. FSU is also filled with soft-spoken men who are capable of inventing, building and shaping the world around you.

Of course men should be strong, Jameis. Of course they should be loud. But not to stand on a table and shout “fuck her right in the pussy” to all of campus. Not to grab a pound of frozen crab legs and run out of the door.

Of course men can do anything they set their mind to – but so can women – and that sort of advice is hard to take coming from you. A poor character often shows itself through simple “poor choice of words,” and reflects who someone truly is.

To the students of Melrose Elementary School in St. Petersburg, I am sorry you were reduced to such outdated and ill-suited stereotypes. Florida State is not representative of this poor character. A man is more than a deep voice, and if you haven’t learned that by now, Jameis, I don’t think you ever will.