Just days after Michael Jordan’s alleged “inappropriate” interaction with NASCAR driver Tyler Reddick’s 6-year-old son sparked heated controversy online, the child’s father has finally addressed the situation.
In multiple viral clips circulating from the 2026 Daytona 500 Victory Lane celebration, Jordan, co-owner of 23XI Racing, was slammed as “tone deaf” and even called a “creep” by some viewers over his gestures with the child.
Tyler, who races for the NBA legend’s team, further split the internet with his latest statements, with one critic saying, “So he’s cool with someone mo**sting his son as long as they’re rich and famous.”
Tyler Reddick, whose 6-year-old son was at the heart of an “inappropriate” controversy involving Michael Jordan, has finally addressed the situation
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Earlier this week, in now-viral videos circulating online, Michael Jordan was seen interacting with Tyler Reddick’s son, Beau, during a champagne-soaked celebration after Tyler won “The Great American Race” at Daytona International Speedway.
In the brief clips, the 63-year-old retired athlete was seen tugging at Beau’s shirt and appeared to touch his lower back as the child was soaked from the sprayed champagne.
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“This is disgraceful, and where are the parents?” one asked, while another wrote, “This is another level of weirdness. Why is the GOAT Jordan touching that kids a**?”
Another viewer asked, “Can someone explain to me what Michael Jordan is doing here? He would never be able to do that to my child.”
“Whether the video is real or not, is that really the most appropriate way to interact with a child in public, especially with cameras everywhere and so many people watching?”
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However, some defended Jordan, claiming he was simply helping Beau remove ice cubes from his back, which had reportedly gotten stuck on his clothing during the victory celebration.
Defenders argued, “The child had ice in his shorts from the victory celebrations and Michael was trying to help get the ice cube out.”
The NBA star was captured in multiple viral clips tugging at the child’s shirt and even appeared to touch his lower back
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Another user added, “He didn’t b*tt squeeze him or whatever. Someone has already clarified he was helping him get ice out his shirt or something. Everyone can put their pitchforks down.”
While appearing on The Stephen A. Smith SiriusXM Show on Tuesday, February 17, Tyler shared his views on the controversy.
Explicitly defending Michael, Reddick told host Stephen, “From my perspective, I’ve gotten to know Michael and his family very well over the years I’ve been here with 23XI.”
“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, and I just put that [the controversy] off to the side.”
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He continued, “[I] think about the look on [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. So, that’s where I’m at with it.”
However, Tyler’s explanation did not sit well with many fans and viewers of the podcast episode, who took to social media to voice their disappointment and disapproval.
Reddick’s comments further split the internet, as many accused him of being a “bad father,” while others praised his stance on the matter
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One person sarcastically wrote, “Wow, Tyler really just said ‘I don’t see what other people see’ about MJ putting hands on his 6yo son like that? Some ‘father of the year’ moment.”
Another user commented, “Do you not have eyes? If this was my own father I would have looked him in the eyes and said what the f*ck were you doing and what were you thinking?”
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“So he was fine with a grown man touching his child inappropriately. Got it,” added a third.
“All the people defending this let me know how you would feel if a man repeatedly pinched your child’s b*tt, even if he was your best friend that even makes it worse.”
Meanwhile, others defended Jordan, with one person commenting, “Reddick is right: we see 5 seconds, they live the other 23 hours of the day together. If the parents aren’t upset, the internet probably shouldn’t be either.”
“If the father doesn’t see an issue, why is the internet so outraged?” questioned another, while a third netizen chimed in, “Respect for a family’s privacy should be the default. Labeling a moment ‘gross’ without knowing their history is exactly why public discourse feels so toxic lately.”
Michael and Tyler’s relationship reportedly dates back years, if not decades, as both families share a close bond
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While the former Chicago Bulls star has not addressed the controversy directly, a source told the Daily Mail that “it’s not the most ideal situation for Michael to be in,” but people around him and the team who were celebrating that day viewed it as “a playful gesture and nothing more nefarious.”
“Tyler doesn’t have any issue with it and everyone hopes it just goes away and can be looked upon as nothing more than innocent and playful,” the source concluded.
Previously, in a June 2024 interview with The Athletic, Reddick revealed that his family’s history with Jordan spans decades.
He told the outlet, “I think there’s even a picture – I could be wrong – of MJ holding [Tyler’s wife] Alexa as a baby.”
“This is some Salem Witch Trial… A grown man isn’t going to do something with a kid in front of 1000 people with cameras,” wrote one netizen
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