Puka Nacua found the end zone for his latest NFL touchdown on Thursday Night Football – and he smartly opted against doing his previously-planned celebration.
The Los Angeles Rams superstar sparked fury on a livestream with Adin Ross and N3on earlier in the week, in which he devised a touchdown dance which included an offensive Jewish stereotype.
Nacua later offered a groveling apology, claiming he was unaware of the offensive connotations of the dance, and the NFL even released a statement condemning his behavior.
Hours after saying sorry, the 24-year-old receiver was back on the field – and back in the end zone – scoring in the second half to extend the Rams’ lead over the Seahawks in a huge moment for the 2025 season.
All eyes were on Nacua’s celebration to see what would happen after he scored, but he wisely kept it simple, spinning the ball and spreading his arms wide in a breast stroke-like action.
‘When I appeared the other day on a social media livestream, it was suggested to me to perform a specific movement as part of my next touchdown celebration,’ Nacua had earlier posted in a statement on social media.
‘At the time, I had no idea this act was antisemitic in nature and perpetuated harmful stereotypes against Jewish people.
Nacua was criticized after devising a touchdown dance which includes an offensive Jewish stereotype
‘I deeply apologize to anyone who was offended by my actions as I do not stand for any form of racism, bigotry or hate of another group of people.’
It has been a tough week for the Nacua family more generally, after his brother Samson was arrested on Wednesday for his role in the theft of an SUV belonging to LA Lakers basketball player Adou Thiero.
According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Samson Nacua, 27, was arrested with Trey Rose, also 27, for allegedly taking Thiero’s car without his consent over the weekend.
Puka, meanwhile, also risked the wrath of the NFL further with comments he made about referees on the same live stream as the touchdown dance.
Samson and Puka played together during a successful final season of college football at BYU
In the now-notorious Kick clip, Nacua decided to slam the league’s part-time officials, alleging that they make incorrect calls in a deliberate attempt to get on television.
‘The refs are the worst,’ Nacua said. ‘These guys are lawyers. They want to be on TV, too.
‘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”.’
It is as yet unclear whether Nacua will be punished for either his comments on referees, or the antisemitic dance.
