NASCAR racer Tyler Reddick recently addressed the viral video of an interaction between his son and NBA legend Michael Jordan. The short clip has gone viral, with many people accusing Jordan of inappropriate behavior. But Reddick pushed back on those allegations.
NASCAR star Tyler Reddick addresses viral moment between his kid and Michael Jordan
As the entire 23XI Racing team celebrated their recent victory in the 2026 Daytona 500, a video of Michael Jordan interacting with Tyler Reddick’s son has gone viral. Online users are outraged and have since accused the NBA star of inappropriately touching the six-year-old boy. However, Reddick said that he doesn’t view the video from a similar perspective.
During a recent interview with Stephen A. Smith, the Daytona 500 winner shared his perspective on the viral clip. “From my perspective, I’ve gotten to know Michael and his family very well over the years I’ve been here with 23XI. I don’t see what other people see when it comes to this,” he explained.
“For me, it’s a huge moment. This is the biggest moment of my career,” Reddick continued. “It’s a huge moment for my family, and for his family. I just put that off to the side and think about the look on Yvette’s (Jordan’s wife) face, the whole family, and his whole group when they got to the victory lane, too, and just how happy everybody was celebrating together. So, that’s where I’m at with it.”
His comments have further divided the internet on the matter. While some people continue to suggest that Jordan’s behavior was inappropriate, others have defended both Jordan and Reddick. A user wrote, “Reddick knows MJ & his family well—it’s just a joyful celebration moment. People twisting a wholesome clip into drama is peak 2026 internet. Let the champ & team enjoy the W!”
The former Chicago Bulls player co-owns 23XI Racing. Donning number 45, Reddick has been one of the team’s top players since joining in 2022. While the team has participated in the Daytona 500 since 2020, the 2026 victory marked the team’s and Reddick’s first-ever Daytona 500 victory.
