Cam Newton’s baby draws angry letters to Charlotte newspaper

THE birth of this NFL star’s baby boy should have been cause for celebration, right? Not by the looks of these angry letters.

CHARLOTTE, NC - JANUARY 03: Cam Newton #1 of the Carolina Panthers watches from the sideline during the final minute of their game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Bank of America Stadium on January 3, 2016 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Panthers won 38-10 to clinch home field advantage for the playoffs. Grant Halverson/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

NFL star Cam Newton and his girlfriend welcomed a baby boy over the holidays, a blessing the Carolina Panthers quarterback is fired up about.

The boy, whom the couple named Chosen, already has a couple of scholarship offers, his dad joked. With the Panthers the No. 1 seed in the NFC entering the playoffs and mum and baby doing well, it’s a great time in the Newton household.

Of course, Newton can’t do anything without drawing criticism, and that apparently includes having a child.

The Charlotte Observer posted some letters to the editor on Monday, and the first two criticised Newton for having his baby out of wedlock. From the newspaper:

Cam should marry his son’s mother

In response to “The Chosen One: baby will change Cam’s life (Jan. 1):

“So the man whom we celebrate, and with good reason, has produced a son. Congratulations would be in order if he had been man enough to marry the mother of his child and make a home. This happy occasion is blighted when Cam, whose own parents were married, skips the very basis of being a good parent. I am just very sorry and very disappointed.”

PATRICIA S. BRODERICK, MOORESVILLE

Unwed fatherhood sets bad example

“It is amazing that the birth of Cam Newton’s son by his girlfriend is a front-page story. The U.S. is seeing a rise in unmarried births and for the media to flash this as the greatest happening for Cam Newton is contrary to today’s family principles.

Cam is a role model to many of our young males, both white and black. The least that he and his longtime girlfriend could have done is to get married prior to giving birth to show his followers that not only is he a superstar, but also a person with high morals.”

THOMAS UHL, MOORESVILLE

‘I might just hide under here.’

Luckily, a reader happy for Newton wrote in, too:

Salute Cam for putting family first

Editor’s note: Cam Newton left practice early to go to Atlanta for his son’s birth.

“Kudos to Cam for putting fatherhood first, then football. He had a great role model who helped make him the fine young man he is today. Like him, I wish all males could have that father figure in their lives. I can’t wait to see Chosen dabbin’!”

SHEILA PELTZER, CHARLOTTE (PRESIDENT OF KIDSNEED2PARENTS)

Happy New Year, Cam, and cheers on your son.

Originally published as Cam Newton’s baby draws angry letters to Charlotte newspaper