Jeff Ross is clarifying what really happened between him and Tom Brady when the quarterback briefly confronted the comedian during his live Netflix roast on May 5.
Some viewers, including fellow comedian Nikki Glaser, who was also present at the roast, thought the former NFL player was genuinely upset after Ross made a joke about New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft. But Ross revealed that was not the case.
“Come on, come on, no way,” Ross replied to the question “The Rich Eisen Show” May 6, if Brady was actually angry.
He continued, “He was having fun. You know, it’s like he’s his father. Robert Kraft is like a father figure to him. He just showed Robert Kraft his love.”
According to Ross, Kraft was not offended by the joke either.
“And Robert Kraft loved it. We had a great conversation afterwards. He was so happy that I shouted a greeting and a salute to him. It was beautiful,” he said.
During Ross’s May 5 appearance, Brady stood up, walked up to the comedian and whispered in his ear, “Don’t say that shit again,” after Ross alluded to a 2019 controversy involving the Patriots CEO.
Ross replied, “OK, OK,” and completed the rest of his routine.
Although Ross downplayed the moment in his interview on the Rich Eisen Show, Glaser had a different perspective when commenting on the awkward confrontation. She watched from the stage as Brady interrupted Ross.
In an interview with Howard Stern on May 6, Glaser said she thought Brady’s reaction in that moment was authentic.
“I think that was real,” she said.
She added that she was surprised to see Kraft at the roast, as the 82-year-old mogul was “something of a father figure to Tom.” She said she felt Kraft might not want to listen to all the below-the-belt jokes about the retired quarterback.
“So yeah, I was surprised when Jeff made that joke, but I think Tom was actually looking out for him (Kraft),” Glaser said.
She also said that Ross seemed concerned afterward that he had taken the joke too far.
“Afterwards he was a little bit like, ‘Was that too…?’ He was a little bit worried,” Glaser told Stern about Ross. “I mean, we have a conscience about these things. Afterwards we ask ourselves, ‘Did that really hurt his feelings?’
“You know, he had to do it for Robert, I’m sure,” she continued, apparently referring to Brady’s reaction. “But I’m sure it wasn’t a topic that Jeff would hear about today or anything like that.”
During the live roast, Brady sat onstage at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles while several celebrities, including Glaser and Ross, took the stage and joked about his NFL career and personal life.
In the introduction to the joke, which apparently went against Brady’s grain, Ross mentioned that Brady was famously selected 199th in the draft before going on to have a legendary career and win seven Super Bowl rings.
The comedian joked that after his selection, Brady walked into Kraft’s office and said, “I am the best decision your organization has ever made.”
Amid applause from the audience, Ross continued, “Would you like a massage?”
At that moment, Brady rose from his seat next to the lectern and whispered loudly to Ross. At that point, it was unclear whether Brady’s response was scripted.
The massage joke appeared to reference 2019 headlines involving Kraft, who was charged as part of a human trafficking investigation at a massage parlor in Jupiter, Florida. The Patriots CEO pleaded not guilty to two counts of soliciting a prostitute and released a statement at the time.
“I am truly sorry. I know I have hurt and disappointed my family, my close friends, my colleagues, our fans and many others who rightly expect higher of me,” he said in March 2019, NBC News reported.
He added: “I hope to continue to use the platform I have been blessed with to help others and try to make a difference. I expect to be judged not by my words but by my actions. And through those actions, I hope to regain your trust and respect.”
In September 2020, Florida prosecutors dropped the solicitation charge, NBC News reported.
Still, Ross’s innuendo prompted Brady to confront the comedian onstage. Audience members reacted to the awkward interaction at X.
NFL reporter Ari Meirov wrote that it “felt like a Will Smith moment.”
An X user Compliments to Ross for his answer.
“Jeff handled it like a pro. Tom, come on,” he said.
Another asked“With all the jokes about his kids, Gisele, etc., is this the point where Tom goes too far?”
With all the jokes about his children, Gisele etc., is this crossing a line for Tom?😂😂
— average sports fan (@sportyspice_69) May 6, 2024
Other comedians, such as host Kevin Hart and Glaser, repeatedly poked fun at Brady’s 2022 divorce from Gisele Bündchen throughout the evening. The former athlete simply giggled or took a sip of his drink.
This article was originally published on TODAY.com.
