During his Netflix roast, the iconic quarterback Tom Brady—who is renowned for his intense focus and fierce competitiveness—exhibited a different side. Roasts are supposed to be funny and frequently touch on touchy subjects, but Brady objected to a joke that was directed at Robert Kraft, his longtime owner.
On Netflix‘s “Greatest Roast of All Time,” a star-studded lineup of comedians poked fun at Brady. This is when the incident took place. The edgy comedian Jeff Ross, who is well-known for his ruthless honesty and sense of humor, targeted Kraft in 2019 by making reference to his legal issues.
This was the point of tension. “I’m the best decision your organization has ever made,” Ross pretended to be Brady when he introduced himself to Kraft. But the punchline hit home with a thud. “‘Would you like a massage?'” Ross continued.
Brady showed visible emotion in response to this. The usually calm athlete turned to face Ross, and when he tried to whisper something, the microphone caught up what he was saying. A firm “Don’t say that s— again” was aimed at Ross, who laughed nervously in response.
There was a mixed response from the audience. A few others thought the interaction amusing, which illustrates how random roasts may be. Others, though, thought it went too far, particularly in light of how serious the allegations against Kraft were.
An Adverse Subject
To refresh your memory, in early 2019, solicitation charges were brought against Kraft, the owner of the New England Patriots, the team where Brady played for the most of his career. An inquiry into massage parlors that spanned multiple counties led to these accusations. Both Kraft’s reputation and the media gave considerable attention to the case. Though the charges against Kraft were eventually dropped in 2020 after his not guilty plea, the issue is still a touchy one.
By His Friend’s Side?
Multiple interpretations exist for Brady’s response. A few perceive it as an act of allegiance to Kraft, who surely contributed greatly to Brady’s achievements. In light of Kraft’s public apologies and the pending legal dispute at the time, Brady might have believed the joke to be really offensive.
The Roast Continues
The unpleasant conversation didn’t stop the roast. A number of other comedians ridiculed Brady, his style sense, his several Super Bowl victories, and even his brief period of retirement. Brady demonstrated his comic timing and capacity for self-relevance by mostly taking the jokes in stride.
An Emotionally Complicated Night
Remaining a high point—or sad point, depending on your viewpoint—of the roast is the “Don’t say that s— again” moment. It taught me that there are boundaries that should never be violated, even during fun occasions. Although jokes like this one tend to push limits, Brady seemed to find a connection with it, showing a previously unobserved side of the normally stoic athlete.
