The Viral Moment
Following Reddick’s last-lap victory at Daytona International Speedway, Jordan co-owner of 23XI Racing joined the celebration in Victory Lane. Video showed Jordan playfully interacting with Reddick’s son.
The footage exploded online, with many accusing Jordan of inappropriate behavior.
The Defense
“It’s a kid that Michael Jordan loves like it’s his own kid. It’s a kid that he’s known for years… There’s nothing wrong with holding people accountable. We live in a day and age where it’s important to hold people accountable.”
Reddick Speaks
Now Reddick has broken his silence, appearing on Stephen A. Smith’s SiriusXM radio show to address the controversy directly.
Reddick made clear that Jordan shares a close, familial relationship with Beau. The interaction was playful, not predatory. The angle made it look worse than it was. And as the father, he’s the only opinion that matters.
The Silence
Michael Jordan himself has not commented on the backlash. He rarely does. The greatest basketball player of all time has spent decades ignoring noise and focusing on what matters.
In this case, what matters is that the child’s father sees no issue. The controversy, such as it was, has been put to rest.
The Bottom Line
Tyler Reddick won the Daytona 500. Michael Jordan celebrated with his family. The internet got upset. The father set the record straight.
Case closed.