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Michael Jordan faces backlash over weird celebration with a child after Daytona 500 win
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- Michael Jordan faces backlash over weird celebration with a child after Daytona 500 win
Michael Jordan added another feather to his cap after Tyler Reddick won the Daytona 500 on Sunday. It was a thrilling victory for Jordan and Reddick, who led the race for just one lap — the one that led him to the checkered flag at the Daytona International Speedway.
However, while Jordan's latest victory in a different sporting discipline garnered massive attention, so did his eyebrow-raising celebration.
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What was MJ doing?
In a video clip that has since gone viral online, Jordan can be seen repeatedly pinching Redick's son, Beau, before rubbing the back of his leg. The basketball legend faced criticism for his interaction with a boy.
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Others, though, were convinced that this is just a case of a sports celebrity's actions being taken too seriously. Some even said that a piece of ice had gotten stuck under the child's shorts during the celebration, and Jordan was trying to dislodge it.
NASCAR podcaster Bubba The Love Sponge Clem echoed this theory, arguing that critics are overreacting and blowing the moment out of proportion.
"Tyler Reddick's son had a chunk of ice. You can see that Tyler Reddick's son's shirt is completely saturated, and Michael Jordan tried to help a little kid out; 'Let me get those chunks of ice out of your back,'" he explained .
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Jordan shares a close relationship with Beau. Given that history, he was most likely just joking around with a child he has known for years through their extended NASCAR family.
An incredible victory
If anyone had said in the 1990s that Jordan would one day headline NASCAR, they would have been called insane. However, that is the reality of stock car racing today.
"I can't even believe it," Jordan said after the race. "You never know how these races are gonna end. You just try to survive."
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While Jordan obviously dominated basketball, his love affair with NASCAR runs deep, as he recalled sitting with his family in front of the TV, watching the race unfold.
"It was a group event. The family sat there and we watched the race. Four hours, five hours, six hours, didn't matter. We were gonna watch the race," Air Jordan shared. "For me to have an opportunity to continue to come back and be a part of this kinda reminds me of being back home in North Carolina and being able to connect with the family and watch the race."
The victory was another milestone in Jordan's decorated sports career. Here's to the hope that his post-race celebration was nothing more than playful banter.
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This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Feb 16, 2026, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
