Father's Day brought an unexpected wave of sympathy for Tom Brady, as the seven-time Super Bowl champion was conspicuously absent from a heartfelt social media post by his ex-wife, Gisele Bundchen. The supermodel took to Instagram to honor her new husband, Joaquim Valente, and her father, but made no mention of the father of two of her children.
Bundchen's post read: "Happy Father’s Day @joaquimvalente! Thank you for leading by example, and for the values you embody, love, humility, integrity, discipline, kindness and consistency. You are an incredible role model. We are all so grateful for you, and we love you so much. And dad, thank you for your unconditional love, wisdom, and support through every stage of my life. Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there."
The omission did not go unnoticed. NFL fans flooded social media with reactions, many expressing sympathy for Brady, who shares son Benjamin and daughter Vivian with Bundchen, and also has a son, Jack, with actress Bridget Moynahan. The contrast with Brady's own Mother's Day tribute to Bundchen earlier this year only fueled the sentiment.
"This is just such low class. You're that hurt that you have to be spiteful. Tom celebrated her on Mother’s Day so you can see who hurt who. Take a lesson from Tom and get some class. Especially for your children involved," one fan wrote on social media.
Another fan added, "She literally woulda been the most irrelevant person ever after like 2004 if it wasn’t for Brady." Others simply asked, "No Brady???"
Some fans took a broader view, noting Brady's history as a provider. "I recall in Gisele’s early years pursuing Brady as if he was a pot of gold. I was alarmed that he was such a womanizer that his ex-girlfriend was pregnant when he announced his love for Gisele. He provided for his children. I would think the mothers of his children would show gratitude for his assistance in child rearing along with financial support, especially on Father’s Day to instill traditions for future generations for their family," one user commented.
However, not everyone sided with Brady. Some fans defended Bundchen's choice, pointing out that she acknowledged her current partner and her father without necessarily disrespecting Brady. "I don’t see this as being disrespectful to Tom Brady, as he remains the loving father of two of her children. Of course she likes her infant child’s father’s love, humility, and kindness. His career will never eclipse hers, and that will be consistently great for her," one supporter argued.
The moment adds another chapter to the public narrative of Brady and Bundchen's post-divorce relationship, where even holidays can become a stage for unspoken tensions. For Brady, who has often been in the spotlight for his on-field achievements, this Father's Day served as a reminder that even the greatest quarterbacks can't always control the game off the field.
