An interview given by NFL player Jared Verse to a gay TV host has gone viral after the Los Angeles Rams star was left visibly uncomfortable.
Verse was speaking to Ruba Wilson at Ronda Rousey’s fight against Gina Carano in Los Angeles earlier this month.
Wilson, who describes himself as ‘queer, confident, and unfiltered’ on his Spotify profile, asked him to name some of the Rams players he thought he could beat in the ring.
‘I’m beating the hell out of Puka (Nacua), I’m beating BY (Byron Young), I’m beating everybody on the Rams,’ Verse said in reply.
But, as he was speaking, Wilson appeared to let out a moaning noise before turning to the camera and saying ‘we love a confident daddy’.
When he did that, Verse started laughing awkwardly before Wilson asked him ‘what happened? what are you talking about?’
An interview given by NFL player Jared Verse to a gay TV host has gone viral on social media
TV host Ruba Wilson spoke to Verse before Ronda Rousey’s fight with Gina Carano this month
A clearly uncomfortable Verse then asked Wilson: ‘What the f*** just happened bro?’
Some on social media accused Verse of being disrespectful towards Wilson but the majority of fans called out the host instead.
Former ESPN personality Sage Steele commented how well Verse handled the situation.
She posted on X: ‘Let’s be clear: seeing a man with a mustache dressed as a woman, making sexual innuendos to a very masculine man, with that forced voice is – among many things – funny.
‘Comical, actually. Laughing is the kindest reaction to the entire exchange.’
Another viewer posted: ‘The interviewer was looking for a reaction and behaved extremely unprofessional to get that reaction. Nothing wrong with Verse.’
One commented: ‘It’s very unprofessional to say that, especially to someone you don’t know personally.’
Another added: ‘You are mad at him getting called a confident daddy? Bro didn’t laugh the whole time until he said that…’
‘I’m not seeing what Jared Verse did wrong… I don’t even think he was laughing at buddy’s voice because he was talking like that the entire time,’ a fifth explained.
‘He was laughing at the (highly inappropriate and unprofessional) comment the journalist made… this isn’t that deep’.
Another viewer posted: ‘How about realizing the reporter was disrespectful to Jared Verse by walking up to him and call him “daddy”?
‘Did Ruba Wilson consider the player’s feelings before he did that? No. Sit down with the fake outrage.’
‘Jared Verse looked straight-up uncomfortable during that interview,’ another replied.
‘The forced smile and awkward laugh? Bro was clearly caught off guard by Ruba Wilson getting way too familiar. This is creepy behaviour from the reporter.’
Verse, 25, was selected by the Rams with the No. 19 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft and he has quickly established himself as one of the best linebackers in the NFL and key player for Sean McVay’s team.
He was named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year after his first season in 2024 and has been selected to the Pro Bowl in both of his NFL seasons so far.
Verse watched on as Rousey stopped Carano with her signature armbar just 17 seconds into the two iconic fighters’ double comeback bout earlier this month.
