Any time Michael Jordan wins a championship, the headline is usually about his legacy of excellence in sports. Though Jordan lay claim to a prestigious prize on Monday in his capacity as NASCAR team owner, the championship victory was overshadowed by allegations that he was inappropriately touching a child.
As the NASCAR broadcast covered the celebration of Jordan’s 23XI Racing at Daytona 500, after Tyler Reddick pulled off a buzzer-beater of his own, the camera showed Jordan reaching out his hand and apparently making physical contact with a young boy from behind.
Netizens were quick to react to this footage, but a closer look at this scene (as well as much-needed context) dispels the notion that MJ had ill intentions at that moment.
Some online users have pointed out that Michael Jordan tugging on the boy’s shirt rather than touching a part of his anatomy. Moreover, netizens claim that this boy is Tyler Reddick’s son, who was drenched with water, ice, and confetti as the multi-titled NASCAR driver celebrated his Daytona 500 win.
It’s possible, then, that Jordan was trying to remove ice or confetti from the boy’s shirt at that moment. The camera angle did MJ no favors, though, and it appears that netizens will continue to debate the true nature of this scene in the coming days.
“It Feels Like I Won a Championship”: Michael Jordan Reacts to Tyler Reddick’s Victory at Daytona 500
For his part, Michael Jordan got emotional as he commented on Reddick’s Daytona 500 victory.
“I’m ecstatic. I don’t even know what to say. It feels like I won a championship.”
This major win comes months after 23XI Racing reached a settlement in an antitrust lawsuit filed against NASCAR. With their first Daytona victory in the books, Jordan and the rest of his team have now emerged as forces to be reckoned with.
