Following the Detroit Lions' home playoff victory over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday night, drama began to unfold regarding a former fan favorite, Matthew Stafford.
When Stafford's wife Kelly, and their children, were shown on the video board at Ford Field, you could hear loud booing from all over the stadium. Now, there are going to be differing opinions and reactions to the booing, but in the end, Kelly took it personal.
In fact, she took it very, very personal.
After the Rams' loss, Kelly took to her podcast to express her opinion about the showing from Lions fans.
Kelly Stafford on Lions fans booing her in front on her kids… pic.twitter.com/FcwgzlFX7Q
— ethan - Detroit Sports Fan (@detsportsethan) January 16, 2024
"I will say one thing. We're not playing the game. My girls and I are not playing the game. And I know that my girls are not being booed. I am. And I can handle it. But when I have my girls next to me, there's something to be said of like, maybe not ," she said.
Lions fans called out Kelly Stafford after her comments, and some of the responses were brutal.
In short, Lions fans were already over Kelly's comments before she could finish.
Warning, some responses are NSFW.
Kelly Stafford when the narrative doesn’t involve her pic.twitter.com/NavVGAwtyr
— Justin | Hutchinson Truther (@Detroit_Bluess) January 15, 2024
I’ll say this again for the people who don’t know the history. Lions fans were booing Kelly Stafford. Not the kids. Kelly has always been entitled even though this city was praying for her during her battle with cancer. She shits on the city and the fans all the time. https://t.co/lQJMf8KYqQ
— JoV (@ItsJoVBaby) January 16, 2024
Kelly Stafford put a bad name on our fans. It’s exactly what she wanted to do and it’s CLASSLESS of her to put false information out there. Before you @ me, I was at the game IN FRONT OF HER. No one booed her or her children. She was interacting with fans and waving at them. If…
— Mona (@theonemonaa) January 16, 2024
Kelly Stafford when all the attention isn't on her 24/7 https://t.co/MA8Lfic57t pic.twitter.com/58llhKuDuv
— alex #OnePride (@alex_detr0it) January 15, 2024
Surprised that Kelly stafford made up some shit for a pity party? No. We’re not surprised.
— Jonah E (@jonahe_22) January 16, 2024
I just want to see Kelly Stafford crying while sitting in the cheap seats with the local peasants.
— Not Dr. Loomis (@gobluedmljr) January 15, 2024
Nah they were booing Kelly Stafford, she feels slighted that the lions org wouldn’t give her a suite. So her sense of entitlement is crushed. Now she’s weaponizing her kids? She was a problem when Matt was here and I’m not shocked things haven’t changed. Tfoh 🤡
— Ky1eDriver (@Ky1eDriver) January 15, 2024
I would bet money that fans were actually booing Kelly Stafford but her head is so far up her own ass that she can’t fathom that thought.
— Spartan Dawgs (@SpartanDawgsEL) January 16, 2024
No one is booing your kids. They’re booing you. https://t.co/ZmPEL5OI9K
When all is said and done, I think The Athletic's Jon Greenberg had the best take. This entire situation could have been avoided if the Lions media team opted not to show Kelly and her children on the video board while fans were booing Stafford.
Did the Lions videoboard producer put Kelly Stafford and their kids on the screen when Lions fans were booing Matthew Stafford?
— jon greenberg (@jon_greenberg) January 15, 2024
Look, this is part of the game. Fans will be fans. Family of players will always take things more seriously than they actually are. And, sometimes, there are key family members of certain players who will go above and beyond taking it personal.
Regardless of your opinion on Kelly Stafford, this entire situation has turned into something it shouldn't have become in the first place. Now, who is to blame? Once again, I'm with Greenberg on this one.
As for Stafford, the quarterback, I have a feeling that fans have nothing but love for him. When he's an opponent, of course they are going to be rooting against him. However, if you were to ask a lifelong fan their opinion on the former no. 1 overall pick, I would venture to guess they'd have nothing but positives.
When you're operating within the tension of the NFL Playoffs, though, things change.