The gay couple who went viral over their jumbotron NYE kiss have spoken out against the surprising reaction online.
On December 31st, personal trainer Ricky Locci and his boyfriend DJ Petrosino were seen sharing a kiss on national TV as they rang in the new year in New York.
The moment was aired on ESPN’s Sport Center show and, after Locci and Petrosino’s kiss was shown on screen, anchorman Scott Van Pelt appeared somewhat shocked.
Several other accounts on social media reposted the clip, while others online users provided a negative reaction to Locci and Petrosino’s kiss.
As the dust settled around the viral moment, the couple have now officially spoken out on the matter in an interview with Outsports.
Locci said: ‘It’s been an interesting mix of reactions! We’ve had a lot of support, with people saying the kiss warmed their hearts, that they were so happy for us or that they needed to see that, especially after this last year.
The gay couple who went viral over their jumbotron New Year’s Eve kiss have spoken out
Ricky Locci and boyfriend DJ Petrosino were seen sharing a kiss on national TV on NYE
ESPN’s Sport Center anchorman Scott Van Pelt appeared shocked when the kiss was aired
Meanwhile, Petrosino said: ‘We thought it would just be shown on the Jumbotrons. We didn’t know it was going to be televised. We kiss all the time, so we didn’t think it was that big of a deal.’
Reflecting on Van Pelt’s viral reaction to their kiss, the couple brushed off any negativity and suggested that the ESPN anchorman was simply ‘surprised’.
Petrosino continued: ‘It speaks to the nature of the society that we’ve created that he didn’t want to say the wrong thing.
‘Some people are like, ‘Oh my gosh, he’s disgusted!’ Others are like, ‘He’s aroused!’ Our interpretation was that he was surprised and didn’t want to say the wrong thing.’
Similarly, Locci suggested that there was no malice in Van Pelt’s reaction and that online trolls took the viral clip too far.
He said: ‘It’s crazy how you saw people take his reaction and try to make the worst out of it. I guess they’ll interpret it the way that they want.’
However, Petrosino did note how users on social media took the opportunity to stir up chaos after watching the viral New Year’s Eve kiss.
He continued: ‘With it being on a sports network, where people kissing in general is not seen much, it’s unexpected in and of itself.
The couple suggested there was nothing malicious about Van Pelt’s viral reaction to the kiss
The couple admitted they are ‘proud’ to be carrying the torch for same-sex couples
‘But then to have the cherry on top of it being two men is twisting the screw, you know?’
The couple also claimed they are proud to ‘carry the torch’ for same-sex couples heading into 2026, and also reflected on the hardships they faced growing up.
Locci explained that, while his family were extremely accepting of his sexuality, the same could not be said for his friends at the time.
He revealed: ‘They told me I was going to hell and stopped talking to me. But I had a good reaction from my family, and it was just so amazing to become my authentic self, because that fear of coming out had been so overwhelming.’
Meanwhile, Petrosino said: ‘My mom, being Italian and from Boston, was not happy about it — not the fact that I was gay, but the fact I didn’t tell her sooner! It’s been a road of ups and downs, but nothing too tumultuous.’
He continued: ‘I said to Ricky, when we were sifting through everything, that queer people have been around for hundreds of years, and this is nothing new.
‘However, I think it’s important that this was highlighted right now, and we’re happy to carry the torch.’
