ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith Reacts To NFL Statement On The Trump Dance [WATCH]

The NFL announced that players performing celebratory dances inspired by President-elect Donald Trump’s signature “YMCA” routine will not face fines.

This decision follows backlash over the league’s previous fine against San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa, who was penalized over $11,000 for wearing a MAGA hat.

The NFL confirmed to Fox News Digital that it had “no issue” with players emulating Trump’s dance moves during games.

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Players such as Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers, Tennessee Titans wide receivers Calvin Ridley and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, and Detroit Lions defensive end Za’Darius Smith and linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez were seen performing the dance during Week 11 games.

Bowers explained his inspiration after the game, saying, “I’ve seen everyone do it. I watched the UFC fight last night and Jon Jones did it. I like watching UFC, so I saw it and thought it was cool.”

His post-game interview was reportedly cut short, sparking speculation about whether the celebration would be prohibited. The NFL’s clarification dispelled those concerns.

ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith criticized the NFL for feeling the need to address the celebrations, calling it a reflection of the broader cultural climate.

On his YouTube show, Smith expressed frustration, stating, “Here’s why I’m p—ed off, that the NFL had to even issue a statement about it. Because celebrations usually don’t warrant that. It doesn’t require a response from the league. So why was it necessary this time? You know why? Because we got a bunch of people still living with their heads in the cloud acting like they get to protest every little damn thing.”

Smith attributed Trump’s election victory to public frustration with “woke” and “cancel culture.”

He elaborated, “When you got people walking around wondering whether or not they’re echoing the right pronoun. Wondering whether or not that was gonna cost them their job or being PC because, God forbid, your opinion is different than the average folk walking around in America. Lord knows what would happen to you. That’s what America regressed to.”

Smith pointed out that UFC President Dana White did not address Jon Jones performing the Trump-inspired dance after his victory at UFC 309, where Trump was in attendance. “I got news for you,” Smith said. “Football players are usually American people. So are basketball players. So are UFC fighters. They got a right to support who the hell they want without the league needing to send in a response.”

The Trump-inspired dance has sparked widespread attention across sports, with athletes in both the NFL and UFC adopting the gesture.

The NFL’s decision to avoid penalizing players for the celebration comes amid heightened tensions over free expression in professional sports. Critics have argued that previous league actions, such as Bosa’s fine, reflect bias against conservative-leaning athletes.

As players continue to celebrate in ways that resonate with their personal beliefs, the NFL’s approach to handling such expressions will remain under scrutiny.

Meanwhile, Trump’s “YMCA” dance has become a cultural phenomenon, further highlighting the intersection of sports, politics, and entertainment.

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