Reporter Faces Social Media Storm For Asking Manning About Allegations

AP

his retirement from the NFL and as quarterback of the Denver Broncos. After his 1,900 or so-word farewell, he was asked by a reporter to address allegations that he may have sexually harassed a female trainer in the 1990s. Manning has denied those allegations.

You can read is full remarks in this transcript posted at ESPN. He ended his response to the question about the harassment allegations this way: 

"And so this is a joyous day, and it’s a special day, and like Forrest Gump said, that’s all I have to say about that."

Here's Sports Illustrated's Kenny Ducey with the clip:

Peyton denies Tennessee allegations, quotes Forrest Gump pic.twitter.com/Q2f9zBLIo7

— Kenny Ducey (@KennyDucey) March 7, 2016

But the reporter who asked him to address the allegations, USA Today's Lindsay Jones, became the subject of derision from a host of people who felt the question was inappropriate, reports Poynter and Deadspin.

Here's Poynter's James Warren:

In a phone chat last night, she told me that she was bombarded with sexist, nasty and X-rated hate emails and tweets. Many said she was on a witch hunt, just trying to make a name for herself.

"I couldn't keep up with [the notifications]; the majority were very ugly, horrible, hateful, disgusting," she told Warren. And she defended herself on Twitter:

Manning deserved a chance to respond to what everyone has been saying about him for the last month. I had to ask.

— Lindsay Jones (@bylindsayhjones) March 7, 2016

Denver7's Kyle Horan was among those on Twitter critical of Jones, but he later recanted.

A solid response. I recant. https://t.co/O5yAe8mC1X

— Kyle Horan Denver7 (@KyleHoranNews) March 7, 2016

Jones' online harassment comes as an Australian study finds that for women, online harassment is becoming “established norm.”