Los Angeles Rams star Puka Nacua has come under fire after devising a touchdown dance which includes an offensive Jewish stereotype during a live stream with two YouTubers.
Nacua, who is in his third season with the Rams, appeared on a stream with popular content creators Adin Ross and N3on earlier this week ahead of their crucial Thursday night showdown with the Seattle Seahawks.
As well as taking a swipe at NFL referees and Taylor Swift, the 24-year-old receiver sparked a more alarming type of controversy when he was captured working on an antisemitic touchdown dance with Ross, who is Jewish himself.
Ross encouraged Nacua to perform the celebration, which first sees him spin the ball and flex before rubbing his hands together, with the latter gesture becoming a signature move of the streamer to reference a degrading concept of Jewish people.
It is unclear whether the NFL player was aware of the antisemitic stereotype the dance is based upon.
Nacua’s agent, Justin Schulman of Athletes First, responded to The Athletic’s request for comment by saying: ‘No comment needed.’ Daily Mail has also approached Schulman and the Los Angeles Rams.
Rams star Puka Nacua has come under fire after devising a touchdown dance which includes an offensive Jewish stereotype
The 24-year-old has sparked antisemitism fury after working on the controversial dance
The LA wideout has caused outrage by performing the dance with Ross, with California politician Eric Swalwell blasting him as an ‘a**hole’ after seeing the viral clip.
Swalwell, who is calling for swift action from either Nacua or the Rams, says his actions were even more outrageous in light of the devastating shooting at a Jewish holiday celebration in Australia over the weekend.
‘The Los Angeles Jewish community is on edge after the Bondi Beach massacre,’ the congressman said Wednesday. ‘And what does this a**hole @AsapPuka do? He promises an antisemitic touchdown dance for his Thursday night game.’
While he is Jewish himself, Ross has previously faced scrutiny for platforming far-right provocateur Nick Fuentes and an anonymous Neo-Nazi among other polarizing figures.
The online personality and N3on later attempted to enter the Rams’ facility on Tuesday to stream with Nacua there, only to be denied entry by the team.
‘I thought my team communicated. I guess there was no communication,’ Nacua told them over the phone on the live stream. ‘Especially then, when Coach found out, he didn’t f*** with that. Just because of the short week.
‘Let me handle business on Thursday, then we should be good.’
Over the course of an explosive live stream, Nacua went on to hit out at NFL referees in a shocking rant, describing them as ‘the worst’.
Nacua appeared on a live stream with popular YouTubers Adin Ross (right) and N30n (left)
‘These guys are lawyers. They want to be on TV, too,’ he claimed. ‘You don’t think he’s texting his friends in the group chat like, “Yo, you just saw me on Sunday Night Football? That wasn’t PI (pass interference), but I called it.”‘
NFL players risk huge fines by publicly criticizing league officials, meaning Nacua could face punishment over his tirade.
In another viral moment from the stream, he suggested the ‘Taylor Swift curse’ is to blame for the Kansas City Chiefs failing to make the playoffs.
‘I mean, they didn’t have Rashee Rice who’s their other receiver this year,’ he initially said. ‘I don’t feel like they ran the ball well. [Isiah] Pacheco was their running back, right? I don’t feel like he played really good.’
Nacua then added to the amusement of Ross and N3on: ‘It’s got to be the Swift curse or something like that, I don’t know… after they ran out of a little bit of the juice.’
