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Shame on you mr Button. After all the things he said about female drivers and the comment he gets from his female fans, now he decides to excuse himself for his statements. But if he now apologies, why did he say these things in the first place?
I was a Button-fan and I still like his driving style, but he dissapointed me and that's something I won't forget...and I guess I'm not the only woman who thinks that!
That is something “mr.nobody” can say in a pub but not an F1 driver, especially British F1 driver. Very shameful and primitive public statement from Button…
British driver Jenson Button has apologised for his comments in an interview with FHM magazine, in which the BAR driver said female drivers would never succeed in Formula One.
The controversial comments created a media frenzy after Button said that, due to their biological make-up, women like Danica Patrick or Katherine Legge will never be able to compete successfully in Grand Prix racing.
Button has claimed the comments were made "in pure jest during a moment of male banter", and has apologised to everyone who felt offended.
"The article is from FHM and in that article you will see that I talk about Danica Patrick and how great she is on the Indy circuit," Button wrote on his website.
"I have a huge amount of respect for her, I have a huge amount of respect for anybody competing in motorsport as I know how tough it is, be it women or men.
"My comments were made in pure jest during a moment of male banter, and I sincerely regret that so few words, and more importantly the way in which they were written have caused anybody any offence. The tough thing about interviews is that when you are speaking to someone it's very hard to imagine how it will sound to someone reading later on.
"For anyone this has upset, and I hope not too many of you, I apologise."
"Whether you think you can or can't, either way you are right."
-Henry Ford-
Sadly, Mr Button is a few beers short of a six-pack. He may be a quality driver, and charismatic, but this guy makes some pretty dumb moves. Of course, we have all seen Buttongate, where he decides to ignore his contractual obligations. Now, he's flapping his gums, and expects that it will be taken in jest.
Good driver, but a real dork when he's out of the car.
I dont think you should read too much into it. Girls say alot of stupid things too. Maybe not the most clever thing to say when the world is listening.
Its not what you say but what you mean and the difference can be rather large.
I was never a big Button fan. Actually, since he seemed to be the only driver capable of winning for the team I hate (nothing personal, it's just that my team - Toyota - and Honda are big rivals), I hated him! How pathetic, eh?
Then came Buttongate I, which I thought was one of the most selfish acts by an athlete I've ever seen. So, I wasn't too thrilled with that guy, but that all changed when he did a one race commentary for ITV. I thought that he handled it really well, considering he'd never done anything like that.
However, after Buttongate II, it was back to square one. So, as you can see, I'm not a Button fan...which is perfect, because I'm about to take his side.
I honestly belive him when he says that his words were taken out of context. I mean, we're talking about FHM, not the New York Post. For those of you who had ever picked up a copy of FHM, you'll know what I'm talking about. For all we know the conversation could've gone like this:
FHM: So, Jensen, what do you think about Danica Patrick? Do you think that she'll ever race in F1?
JB: Sure, why not? I mean, everything is possible. She is a talented driver, and I hope she makes it. But, you know, knowing that girls can't cope with G-forces like men can, I just don't know how well will she do with corners like Eau Rouge or 130R once those G-forces kick in.
(or something like that)
Then, FHM, writes an article in such way that they can't be held responsible, and yet they make is sound like JB believes that no female driver will ever be able to compete in F1. Something like this:
"...interestingly enough, JB doesn't belive that a cockpit of an F1 car is a place for a woman. He believes that women will never be able to compete with him in corners such as Eau Rouge and 130R..."
Oh, I agree that what he said was taken out of context. But sadly, whatever the circumstances, he said it. Jenson should have known better, his handlers, or manager should have prepared him much better. And then, why the heck would he give an interview to FHM? To get some cash back, after shipping most of it off to Williams for his buy-out?
That boy is digging a hole he may not get out of, one day.
To be honest I've gt to admit that with regards to his contacts in the last two years button had made sum very stupid moves (I'm not saying tht he is going to the wrong tems....just that he has taionted his own image). Anyway back to topic...
With regards to the FHM interview. I have that copy of the magazine, and when reading it myself just read it like he was joking. In the context of the interview and the discussion he was having with the interviewer he came across purely as joking. Since reading media reports about his comments, I re-read the article and still failed to find anything REALLY offensive.
I think people are taking things out of proportion. I mean lets say that women were always in F1 and men were not...if a woman commented as a joke with a womans magazine full of womens banter, that a guy with big balls cuddnt b stapped into the car properly...wud we get this sort of out cry...i honestly dont think we would.
I'm not saying "its all the fault of the women getting out of their prams" I'm just saying that Button made comments as a joke in a mens life style magazine where the interview wos, and usually is in that particular magazine, conducted in a semi-serious semi-joking manner. And we have too many people in this world who just LOOK for famous people to slip up. If those people had not been looking to cause trouble then nobody would b having this discussion and I'm sure many more women who read it wouldn't b half as offended.
My own girlfriend and many of her friends have read the article in my magazine and all agree that nothing there is really offensive. They all agree that it is just - as Jenson says - Male Banter. Then they go on to joke about "Men's minds being fixed on womens boobs and thts y Jens made the comment about women with big boobs etc."...but I didn't cry blue murder after that...I just laughed. It was a Female Banter joke!
People please...chill out...if we cannot laugh at ourselves we have no right to laugh at others.
Silence is golden when you don't know a good answer.
sorry forgot to mention...it WAS a mistake of JB's to say that to the MEDIA. If he was talking to all of us on this forum...we r all friendly to one-another - nothing would have been taken as an insult.
But when talking to the media its a different matter, and those people who seem to get offended by everything WILL be listening...just waiting for you to slip up.
So...JB my advice to you is wise-up, after Buttongate 1 & 2 you must know by now that the media are NOT the nicest. Be careful what you say to them!
But I still stand by my thoughts that people are too up tight about his actual comments...which really arent tht bad.
Silence is golden when you don't know a good answer.
JB has too many off-track activities. Of course an F1 driver can have charisma but JB thinks he's a celebrity. He hangs around in all sorts of pub's where he tries to get some girls and he even dare's to fight. An F1 driver should have some more discipline.
JB is a very good F1 driver and really diserves to drive an F1 car, but he should live more for his sport and be more motivated.
I've always been pro-button, he is "very Brittish", has charisma and knows how to drive an F1 car but the last few months he's dissapointing me.
He has already done a lot of stupid things, but i think this time it's just the media who want a sensational story to tell.
Show that you're a loser with a lot of money who can't get a racing license, drive the Gumball 3000...
