In a perfect society, folks would be celebrating female athletes for their accomplishments, not denigrating them. In a recent interview with TMZ Sports, rapper and actor Common suggested that sports fans hold female athletes to a different standard than male athletes.

While trucking through LAX, Common wore a black hoodie that read "Love Her." TMZ asked him for his thoughts on the U.S. Women's national soccer team facing criticism for apparently celebrating too hard after they beat Thailand 13–0 in a World Cup game on Tuesday.

RAPINOE JOINS THE PARTY! 9-0 USA!

Come for the @mpinoe goal, stay for the celebration ???? pic.twitter.com/DhF7Th17qj

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 11, 2019

The women simply did a few kicks in the air and hugged one another, which some found to be too overzealous.

"We're in a time where people (are) telling you how you should react to certain things. If they felt like celebrating then they celebrated," Common told TMZ. "They worked hard to get there. And if they celebrated, that's okay."

Common added that some people don't want to allow women to express themselves, and that Black athletes are often judged or called out for "disrespecting" the game when they do something similar.

"People put in their hard energy and work, so they should be allowed to celebrate if they want to, as long as they go back and keep doing their job," he said.

Common notes that a lot of things are "sexist," but when it comes to sports, "this whole country has been sexist in many ways."

"We just gotta erase that whole mentality," Common said, adding that he's a "feminist" and that he loves his mom.

"I'm supporting the ladies to be able to express themselves."

Watch the clip below and let us know your thoughts.

female-athletes

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