NFL star Tetairoa McMillan stunned two streamers on Wednesday night when he dropped the N-word while they were broadcasting live.
The Carolina Panthers wide receiver was competing in the Streamer Bowl, a special event ahead of this week’s Super Bowl between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots.
McMillan was paired with internet stars YonnaJay and Tamir as part of the challenge that saw him play as his Panthers team on the football video game Madden.
After intercepting an opponent’s pass, which handed his team victory, McMillan launched himself off the couch and shouted ‘N*****, N*****, pick. We won.’
YonnaJay was left stunned by McMillan’s outburst and had to hold her cue cards over her face to hide her reaction.
As McMillan returned to his seat, YonnaJay and Tamir exchanged several awkward glances before she said something to him that was inaudible.
NFL star Tetairoa McMillan stunned two streamers by saying the N-word while they were live
McMillan said the N-word during his wild celebrations after winning on the NFL game Madden
The clip has since gone viral on social media with fans debating whether McMillan was racist or whether it was acceptable for him to use the phrase.
The 22-year-old is an American citizen born in Hawaii. He is of Polynesian heritage.
One critic wrote: ‘I’m sure the Panthers organization is furious with him for being a racist…’
Another added: ‘This is bad’.
But others jumped to his defense, with one writing: ‘I feel like most black peeps won’t care unless the person that says it is white. Y’all can correct me if I’m wrong’.
A fourth replied: ‘As a Panthers fan, he’s definitely good in my book.’
Others demanded the Panthers ‘suspend’ him and ‘cancel’ the young wide receiver.
‘He’s good, he’s Polynesian,’ another supporter commented.
But another critic replied: ‘He’s in that environment all season. It’s a learned trait, and you can tell he doesn’t get it.’
McMillan had an impressive season for the Panthers with 1,014 receiving yards off 70 targets
McMillan has just completed an impressive rookie NFL season for the Panthers, which saw him become quarterback Bryce Young’s top offensive weapon.
After being taken with the No. 8 pick in last year’s NFL Draft out of Arizona, he had 1,014 receiving yards off 70 targets.
He also scored seven touchdowns as the Panthers got back into the NFL playoffs for the first time since the 2017 season.
But their Super Bowl hopes were crushed in the wild card round when they were eliminated by the Los Angeles Rams in Charlotte.
