by Staff writer
Anthony Joshua has been labelled a ‘misogynist’ after he admitted to treating his son Joseph differently from his niece during an interview.
The backlash came after a year-old interview resurfaced online where the world heavyweight champion said he is not strict with his son because of his gender.
In the March 2017 GQ interview, the 28-year-old said that he wants his son to ‘spread his wings’ but that he is ‘stricter’ with his niece.
AJ has been accused of being sexist for that comment.
‘I don’t think I’m that strict with Joseph, I don’t know why,’ he said. ‘But with my niece I’m strict. I think it is because she is older, but also he’s a boy – he’s going to be a man’s man, he’ll want to spread his wings, be a Jack-the-lad, build his character.’
He added: ‘But I am sure there are things I will be strict about. But with my niece, there is none of that Jack-the-lad nonsense for her!’
‘My view is you have to be a good woman, respectful, one day you will be someone’s wife, you have to learn family morals…what it is to be a good woman.’
His comments did not go down well with fans on Twitter who slammed the boxer for his viewpoint. Anthony Joshua also said that he works hard to inspire his son.
‘He needs to look at me like I am a superhero, and that he can come to me for whatever he needs.
That’s one of the reasons I am looking to improve myself, be smarter, so that I can help him on his path.
‘I won’t let him get away with the stuff I did at school. I wasn’t bad and didn’t get in lots of trouble, but that is not what school is about. It’s about working and learning.’
“How Anthony Joshua can look at his niece, not as a child but as someone who is going to be a “wife” is really bemusing. Girls are hardly ever allowed to be. This isn’t just about him, it’s about everyone who shares this shitty, reductive view of little girls,” someone wrote on Twitter.
“That’s how people fail exams sha,” another user wrote.
“If Anthony Joshua had answered the question they asked him he wouldn’t have gotten himself into that mess. They said are you a good dad and he started talking about his niece.”
