The father of a young boy who users online have claimed was ‘inappropriately’ touched by Michael Jordan at the Daytona 500 has spoken out.
It was meant to stand among the most memorable days in the sporting life of the six-time NBA champion. For much of Sunday, it did.
But by the time Monday rolled around, the glow of a landmark victory at the Daytona 500 had been dimmed by a short video clip that ricocheted across social media and ignited a storm of speculation.
Now, as fans replay the footage frame by frame, many believe the full story is far different from the initial online reaction.
A milestone moment at Daytona
When Tyler Reddick surged across the finish line at Daytona International Speedway on February 15, the triumph carried historic significance.
It wasn’t just another race win – it marked the first-ever Daytona 500 victory for 23XI Racing.
For team co-founder Jordan, who launched 23XI Racing in 2021 alongside Denny Hamlin, the victory was deeply personal.
Overcome with emotion, Jordan described the moment as ‘gratifying’ and admitted the unpredictable nature of racing makes survival half the battle.
Smart strategy and perseverance, he said, ultimately gave the team its shot.
As per Yahoo, the star said: “You never know how these races are going to end. You just try to survive.
“We hung in there all day. Great strategy by the team, and we gave ourselves a chance at the end. Look, I’m ecstatic.”
Jordan has long spoken about his affection for NASCAR, recalling how the Daytona 500 was a family tradition while growing up in North Carolina.
Spending hours gathered around the television to watch the race became a ritual.
Being part of the event now, he suggested, feels like a meaningful connection to those roots.
The viral clip
Amid the champagne-soaked celebrations in victory lane, cameras captured a brief interaction that soon took on a life of its own.
In the now-viral footage, Jordan appears to reach toward Reddick’s young son, Beau, tugging lightly at the child’s shirt near his lower back and briefly rubbing his leg.
Within hours, the clip was circulating widely, prompting a wave of commentary online.
While some viewers labeled the moment inappropriate, others declared the allegations extremely damaging.
The reaction was swift, with comment sections filling up as users dissected the few seconds of video.
A divided response
“Straight to jail,” one user wrote. “MJ ruined his entire legacy in only 23 seconds,” declared another.
Others posted: “Yo what did I just witness?” and: “After the week we just had… this is NOT a good look.”
But not everyone was ready to condemn the basketball legend, however.
“Give it a rest! The kid is wet,” one commenter pointed out plainly.
Another offered a more detailed read of the situation: “Everyone got doused in champagne.
“The boy said he was itchy, and Michael Jordan was helping the poor kid out. He’s pulling the shirt away and then he scratches the boy’s leg.
“I know that the Epstein files are out and people are on edge, but this ain’t it, folks. Grow up.”
The boy’s father speaks out
Speaking about the controversial moment on Stephen A. Smith’s Sirius XM radio show, Reddick said: “From my perspective, I’ve gotten to know Michael and his family very well over the years I’ve been here with 23XI, and I don’t see what other people see when it comes to this.
“For me, it’s a huge moment; this is the biggest moment of my career. It’s a huge moment for my family and for his family.”
He added: “And I just put that off to the side and think about the look on (Michael Jordan’s wife) Yvette’s face and the whole family and his whole group when they got to victory lane too, and just how happy everybody was celebrating together.”
Concluding the commentary, he said: “So, that’s where I’m at with it.”
