Brock Bowers made waves on the field with a touchdown celebration that caught everyone’s attention.
After scoring against the Dolphins, Bowers joined a growing list of athletes who’ve adopted former President-elect Donald Trump’s signature two-handed shuffle dance.
However, his moment of fun quickly turned controversial when it led to the Las Vegas Raiders cutting short his media availability.
The Trump Dance Trend Among Athletes
Bowers wasn’t the first to use Trump’s dance move as a celebratory gesture.
Other sports figures, including Titans wide receiver Calvin Ridley, 49ers defensive star Nick Bosa, and UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones, have all paid homage to the former president’s now-famous campaign trail dance.
After Bowers’ third-quarter touchdown, he and a few teammates performed the dance on the field, showing off the shuffle that became iconic during Trump’s rallies.
The Media’s Reaction and Raiders’ Intervention
When Bowers was asked about his choice to replicate the dance, his response sparked an immediate reaction.
The Raiders’ media team swiftly ended his interview after the question was posed.
Bowers, referencing Jones’ UFC victory, explained that he had seen Jones do the dance the night before and thought it was cool.
“I watched the UFC fight last night and Jon Jones did it. I like watching UFC, so I saw it and thought it was cool,” Bowers said.
The Raiders’ abrupt action to cut the interview short raised eyebrows.
When reached for comment by DailyMail.com, the team had yet to respond.
Notably, Bosa, who had also danced in tribute to Trump, did not directly mention the former president when questioned.
His interview ended shortly after, with the PR staff stepping in.
Backlash from Fans and Media
Fans weren’t pleased with the way the Raiders handled the situation.
Many took to social media to express their frustration over the dance being “erased” from memory.
One user called the NFL’s actions “complete trash,” while another criticized the Raiders for not allowing Bowers to continue answering questions about the dance.
There were also jabs at the fact that, unlike Kaepernick’s controversial protests, Bowers’ dance wasn’t given the same space for explanation.
The timing of the media shutdown remains unclear.
It’s not certain whether the interview was supposed to end after Bowers’ question, or if the Raiders stepped in to prevent further discussion about the Trump connection.
A Notable Postgame Omission
It wasn’t just the interview that seemed to be cut short.
The Raiders also seemed to want to distance themselves from the celebration in other ways.
Bowers’ comments about Trump were notably absent from the team’s official postgame materials, including the official video and transcription of players’ quotes.
CBS even edited out the dance from their replay of Bowers’ touchdown during their highlight show.
Despite his effort, the Raiders fell to the Dolphins 34-19, with Bowers putting up impressive stats—13 catches for 126 yards—though his performance couldn’t secure the win.
What happens next remains to be seen, but it’s clear that Bowers’ touchdown celebration has sparked a wider conversation about sports, politics, and media control.
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