Tom Brady blasted for using slur to describe Bills’ Josh Allen live on NFL broadcast

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To say that it has been a rocky start to Tom Brady’s career as a broadcaster may be underselling it.

Arguably the greatest football player of all time, Brady has faced many criticisms of his work in the booth during his rookie season as a broadcaster — and it’s only getting worse

During Sunday’s game between the Bills and Seahawks, the seven-time Super Bowl winner said that Bills quarterback Josh Allen “sometimes played like a spaz,” sparking outrage on social media.

“Sometimes he played like a spaz, like a grade-schooler on a sugar high, but now he’s controlled the chaos,” Brady said while describing Allen towards the end of the game’s first quarter in Seattle. “He’s like a storm coming into town and you don’t want that storm coming into this town.”

“Spaz” is a slang term which is an abbreviation of the word “spastic,” and is considered to be an ableist slur. It is an offensive term often used to someone who is awkward or clumsy.

Brady’s use of the word sparked immediate backlash from fans on social media, with some dumbfounded that he would make such a mistake.

“Did you hear Tom Brady call Josh Allen a ‘spaz’ in the first half of today’s Bill’s game? Highly offensive to people who have physical disabilities as well as their loved ones,” one shocked user posted on X.

“I think he said Josh Allen has to ‘just not play like a spaz’ which somehow seems even worse to me. Sickening that that word is even in his vocabulary,” another responded.

“The ONLY thing worse about watching your team suck all game long is having to listen to the cold-dull-as-three-day-old-dishwater @tombrady announce the game. #ShutUpDude,” another user began, ripping Brady’s announcing skills. “ps: The ‘spaz’ comment was uncalled for.”

After retiring in 2022 and taking 2023 off, Brady has had quite the year. He began his broadcasting career with Fox after signing a massive 10-year, $375-million deal to be the network’s lead analyst during games.

Earlier this month, he also was confirmed as a minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders — a move that has limited his abilities as a broadcaster as his access to teams is now limited and he can now longer be critical of league officials on air.

As for Allen and the Bills, they dominated the game to take home a 31-10 win to improve to 6-2 on the season. Allen was 24-for-34 passing for 283 yards with two passing TDs and an interception in the victory.

In 2022, artist Lizzo removed the word from the lyrics of her single GRRRLS in response to fan backlash. 

The singer insisted that she never intended to cause any harm with the use of the “hurtful” word. 

“It’s been brought to my attention that there is a harmful word in my new song GRRRLS,” she said in a statement at the time.  

“Let me make one thing clear: I never want to promote derogatory language.”