Ex-NFL sideline reporter and Trump fan Michele Tafoya responds after being accused of cringeworthy lie
NBC sports sideline reporter Michele Tafoya insists she wasn’t trying to deceive anyone with a self-flattering and suspiciously familiar social media post.
The sports media personality and outspoken Donald Trump supporter came under fire for recently posting a photograph of a lengthy note she claimed was given to her by a flight attendant aboard a plane.
The hand-written message concluded: ‘On a personal note, I want to thank you for the work you do. I always enjoyed your work with the NFL, but listening to your podcast is wonderful too. Your voice of reason is [sic] brings me a little hope in what seems a dark world. Again, thank you!’
Tafoya also added a caption.
‘Thank you to the flight attendant who handed this to me in flight,’ she wrote in the July 8 post on X.
The problem, according to a community note later added to the X post, was this mysterious flight attendant and her note were making a second cameo on Tafoya’s timeline. Critics were quick to find a similar 2023 post from Tafoya featuring the exact same image.
Michele Tafoya insists she wasn’t trying to deceive anyone on X with her recent post
The problem, according to a community note later added to the X post, was this mysterious flight attendant and her note were making a second cameo on Tafoya’s timeline
But as she has now explained online, Tafoya wasn’t trying to pass the note off as a new, but rather came across the message and simply decided to share it again.
‘I ran across the photo of the note while cleaning out my photos,’ she wrote on response to some online criticism over the confusion.
‘It still means a lot to me. And I’m still grateful to the person who wrote it. But you’re entitled to perceive it any way you like. Have a great day.
‘And thanks again to that flight attendant.’
The 2023 post had a different caption promoting her appearance on Fox News’ show ‘Gutfeld’ as well as her own podcast.
Tafoya wasn’t trying to pass the note off as a new, but rather simply shared it again
‘While on a flight to NYC to appear on @Gutfeldfox I was handed this note by a flight attendant. I won’t reveal the person’s name, but this made my day to say the very least!!!!!,’ the 2023 caption read.
Tafoya concluded with a link to her program and the words: ‘Maybe this will inspire you to SUBSCRIBE.’
A 60-married mother of two, Tafoya revealed her conservative political believes during her sports media career. Speaking with Sports Illustrated in 2015, Tafoya described herself as ‘a pro-choice conservative.’
She remained with NBC’s Sunday Night Football coverage through 2021 and now hosts an eponymous podcast focusing on a variety of topics.
