NASCAR icon Tony Stewart is catching heat after a fiery rant about the death of Kyle Busch, and fans are not letting him off the hook. The three-time Cup Series champion didn't hold back, accusing fans of hypocrisy for only caring about Busch after his passing—but the response has been swift and critical.
Busch, 41, died last month from complications related to pneumonia and sepsis, leaving behind his wife Samantha and two children. The racing world has been mourning, sharing memories and condolences. But Stewart saw a different narrative unfolding.
“I guess the biggest thing in this tragedy that’s happened that pisses me off the most is that now everybody wants to talk about how he was as a person. Outside of that, all they wanted to do is judge what they saw on TV,” Stewart said in a recent interview.
He continued, “It’s frustrating. That’s the way every one of us are judged by what they see on TV and then once you die, they want to talk about how good a person you were. That’s the part that pisses me off the most about it right now.”
Stewart didn't stop there. He blasted fans for not taking the time to know the real Kyle Busch, saying, “You want to wait until a guy dies and then care about who he was as a person is the part that pisses me off about everybody.”
But many fans aren’t buying Stewart’s take. “He should apologize,” one fan posted, while another added, “Tony sorry for you to find out, but all of us common people, didn’t have an opportunity to know him like all you privileged people and competitors got to know him.” Others suggested Stewart revisit anger management, and some pointed out that if Busch’s inner circle had shared his positive side while he was alive, the public might have seen it differently.
This isn’t the first time a sports figure has stirred controversy with posthumous comments. Charles Barkley’s apology to a Spurs coach earlier this year showed how quickly words can escalate. Similarly, Draymond Green had to eat humble pie after a heated exchange. Stewart’s situation feels different—it’s about grief, timing, and how we remember athletes.
One fan summed up the mixed emotions: “People can only see the behavior a sports figure chooses to exhibit to the camera, we’re human. Life is too precious to live thinking what pisses us off. Don’t choose conflict..Motor sports fans are hurt by Kyle’s passing. Those who didn’t like his persona are also truly hurt.”
Stewart’s comments have reignited a debate about judging public figures based on their on-screen personas versus their private lives. While his frustration may stem from a place of loyalty, the timing and tone have left many calling for a mea culpa. For now, the NASCAR community is divided, and Stewart’s silence on the backlash speaks volumes.
