Netflix slammed by furious football fans over ‘cringe’ NFL ad starring Alix Earle: ‘Why is this woman being shoved down our throats?’
Netflix faced the wrath of football fans on Wednesday when it used social media influencer Alix Earle to promote its NFL coverage.
The streaming giant is expanding its coverage of the league this year, obtaining the rights to five NFL games in the upcoming season, including a double header on Christmas Day.
The platform kicks off its coverage with the first of its five games in Week 1 when the Los Angeles Rams take on the San Francisco 49ers in Australia.
And, with just over a week to go, Netflix called in the help of another of its stars to push its gameday program.
Netflix released an advertisement for its NFL Netflix Gameday program on social media, featuring Alix Earle and her sister, Ashtin.
The social media sensation and her family are set to star in Netflix’s reality TV show, Earle Meets World, which is set to be released on Friday before next week’s game.
Netflix faced the wrath of football fans with its NFL advert featuring Alix Earle
Alix and her sister Ashtin Earle starred in the streaming platform’s commercial
The infleuncer and her family are set to star in Netflix’s reality TV show, Earle Meets World
In the commercial, the sisters are joined by former NFL player turned analyst Isaac Rochell as he attempts to coach them through football drills.
Firstly, Rochell attempts to throw the pigskin to Alix, who sports a 49ers uniform and helmet, as she texts on her phone. Ashtin, suited up in a Rams uniform, makes the interception, leaping in front of her distracted sister.
The influencer sisters make many football-related puns, shaking out their long luscious locks at Rochell’s mention of conditioning – jokingly confusing his attempt at training with hair care.
Meanwhile, Alix gets overly excited at the prospect of a post, getting ready to take a selfie instead of preparing for the passing play.
The advert was evidently a strategic crossover from Netflix to promote two of their upcoming projects at the same time.
However, football fans were left far from impressed with the skit with many questioning why the social media stars were involved in NFL coverage.
‘Yeah, whatever the NFL is doing to promote games? Do the opposite,’ one social media user wrote on X.
‘Y’all can do better in marketing fgs,’ claimed another.
The sisters were joined by former NFL player turned analyst Isaac Rochell
Rochell attempts to coach the social media stars through a number of football drills
‘Looks awfully cringe,’ shared a third, as another added: ‘Cringe but would rather listen to these two than Cris Collinsworth.’
‘Netflix somehow turned a football game in Australia into a reality TV crossover event and I respect the chaos,’ posted one.
‘Giving Netflix rights was a mistake @NFL,’ insisted another, while one exasperated user said: ‘This is not how you make the NFL appeal to women.’
Meanwhile, others questioned: ‘Who are these people and why do they have a TV show?’
‘Why is this woman being shoved down our throats?’ asked another.
Alix is no stranger to the NFL, having previously dated New York Giants receiver Braxton Berrios. The couple broke up in December after two years together.
The skincare brand founder was linked to another NFL icon earlier this year when she was spotted enjoying a flirtatious New Year’s Eve with former quarterback Tom Brady.
They were later spotted together at a Super Bowl party in San Francisco back in February, where the former NFL star and stunning influencer danced the night away.
However, it appears her romance with the seven-time Super Bowl winner fizzled out as Earle swore off football players in a YouTube video shared in April.
