Dez Bryant Defends Tetairoa McMillan Saying Racial Slur During Livestream

Carolina Panthers rookie Tetairoa McMillan is facing backlash after a video of him using a racial slur during a livestream went viral. Some users, however, defended McMillan’s statements, including former NFL player Dez Bryant, who declared McMillan meant “no harm.”

According to ESPN, McMillan appeared at a livestreamed video game event on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, where he recited a racial slur. “N—a,” he said. “N—a.”

The moment clearly stunned those around him, who stared at each other with shocked expressions before quietly moving on.

A day later, McMillian addressed the situation in an Instagram post, apologizing for his actions. “Yesterday, while on live stream, I used a term I should not have,” he wrote. “There’s no excuse for what I said — I sincerely apologize for speaking thoughtlessly and will do better.”

McMillan received 41 of the 50 first-place votes to secure the award, beating New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough, New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart, and New England Patriots running back TreVeyon Henderson.

McMillian was selected eighth overall in the 2025 NFL Draft and recorded 70 receptions on 122 targets for 1,014 yards and seven touchdowns, according to his ESPN player profile.

Online, social media users reacted to McMillan’s language, with some expressing genuine disappointment over the athlete’s choice of words. Other users blasted the Arizona alum for allegedly only apologizing because he was caught.

Another claimed McMillan likely uses the derogatory slur regularly, writing, “You can tell he uses the word daily. Just keep your apology.”

Another user defended McMillan, saying the NFL player had no ill intent. “Unpopular opinion, this man clearly didn’t say it in a derogatory way,” they wrote.

Former NFL player Dez Bryant echoed that sentiment, sharing, “Bruh. The way he said… no harm no foul.. he been around. Folks need to chill because it’s really not that f-cking serious.”

McMillan wasn’t the only NFL player forced to issue a public apology after being shamed for indefensible behavior.

According to The Blast, Los Angeles Rams player Puka Nacua apologized on Instagram after appearing on a livestream with streamer Adin Ross and making a gesture many have deemed antisemitic.

“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,” he said. “At the time, I had no idea this act was antisemitic in nature and perpetuated harmful stereotypes against Jewish people.”

A month prior, Cincinnati Bengals player Ja’Marr Chase came under fire after spitting at Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Jalen Ramsey during a heated moment on the field.

He, too, apologized online, saying, “Please know I am speaking from my heart when I say I take full responsibility for my actions during last Sunday’s game at Pittsburgh. What I did was wrong. The circumstances don’t matter. My passion for the game is no excuse. There’s no place in our sport—or in life—for that level of disrespect.”

All eyes are on the NFL as the league’s upcoming Super Bowl contest between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks draws near. The Big Game will be held at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on February 8, and is expected to be a stellar showdown between two powerhouse teams.

Bad Bunny will headline the Super Bowl Halftime Show, according to PEOPLE. “What I’m feeling goes beyond myself,” the popular artist said in 2025. “It’s for those who came before me and ran countless yards so I could come in and score a touchdown… this is for my people, my culture, and our history. Ve y dile a tu abuela, que seremos el HALFTIME SHOW DEL SUPER BOWL.”

The Super Bowl will also have performances from Green Day, Charlie Puth, Brandi Carlile, and Coco Jones.