Mason Rudolph, quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers, found himself at the center of a social media storm after a video surfaced, implying he messaged former NFL cheerleader Amanda Vance during Monday Night Football. Rudolph, however, has firmly denied sending any messages during the game, stating that the claims were entirely misleading.
The controversy began when sports handicapper Joey Mauriello, who is also Vance’s boyfriend, posted a playful video at Hard Rock Stadium. The video showed a message from Rudolph in Vance’s Instagram DMs, which Mauriello joked had been sent during the game while Rudolph was playing. The post, intended as light-hearted content, quickly gained traction, sparking rumors that Rudolph was messaging Vance mid-game.
La histrica pelea a cascazo limpio en la NFL entre Mason Rudolph y Myles Garrett
However, Rudolph was quick to address the misunderstanding. In an appearance on The Doug Gottlieb Show, the quarterback explained that the message in question was actually from several months ago, not during the game. “It wasn’t like I was sending messages during the game, definitely not between second and third down,” he clarified, adding that the DM was part of an older conversation from earlier in the year.
Social media overreaction?
Although Mauriello’s video clearly indicated the message was from months ago, many fans took the post at face value, fueling speculation online. Rudolph’s clarification helped defuse the situation, but the incident highlights how quickly things can spiral on social media, especially in the fast-paced world of sports.
Amanda Vance, the subject of the message, has not publicly commented on the situation. Both she and Mauriello, who are sports content creators, likely posted the video for engagement purposes, and their only mistake seems to have been a lack of context. The message was not sent during the game as some believed, but that detail was lost amid the viral wave of reactions.
A moment blown out of proportion
Ultimately, the situation seems to have been a misunderstanding amplified by the internet. While Mauriello and Vance likely didn’t intend to mislead anyone, the video’s viral nature quickly led to speculation. Rudolph, for his part, seems to have taken it all in stride, humorously addressing the situation and denying any wrongdoing.
This incident is a reminder of how easily misinformation can spread online, especially in the high-profile world of professional sports.
