Of course the internet would ruin what should have been a heartwarming and wholesome story about a woman’s love for her favorite football team.
On Monday, a Los Angeles Chargers fan went viral for her wonderfully fired up reaction to a late-game drive and touchdown sequence by the team. While the Chargers ended up losing the game 20-17 to the Dallas Cowboys, the woman’s jubilant reaction became an instant meme in sports circles, as fan reactions often do.
However, not everyone was convinced this woman’s exuberant reactions to a clutch play were real and genuine. Quickly, the story pivoted from the woman’s delightful reaction to a rare moment of sports joy to her being a paid actor hired to fake her excitement on camera.
The conspiracy theory spread so rapidly that NFL reporter Tom Pelissero followed up on the matter and confirmed on Tuesday morning that the woman is, in fact, a real Chargers fan and season ticket holder.
Sorry, conspiracy theorists: The #Chargers fan who went viral Monday night and her husband are season ticket holders who rent cabana suites every season for multiple games, I’m told.
They’re true diehard fans — not actors — and wanted to get the word out. pic.twitter.com/pnHtKSvWlg
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) October 17, 2023
It’s nice to see the confusion get cleared up quickly, but it boggles my mind that this was a conspiracy theory in the first place. Is sports joy so rare for you that you can’t comprehend someone enjoying one fleeting moment of happiness for their favorite team?
Seriously, let the woman enjoy herself! The internet at large may hate fun things, but at least this Chargers fan is living her best life regardless of what people think.
