Even in retirement, Tom Brady proves he's a master at commanding attention. A brief New Year's Eve clip from the celebrity hotspot of St. Barts was enough to catapult the legendary seven-time Super Bowl champion back into the viral spotlight, sparking widespread online chatter.
The Viral Moment That Set the Internet Ablaze
The video, which spread rapidly across social media platforms, showed Brady enjoying celebrations alongside popular social media influencer Alix Earle. In the clip, Earle is seen leaning close to whisper in Brady's ear while her hand rests on his back. Brady responded by placing his hand around her waist. The silent interaction, rich with body language, was all the fuel the internet needed to ignite a firestorm of speculation and debate.
For countless NFL fans, Brady remains compelling viewing even off the field. His every public move is dissected, and this instance swiftly transitioned from sports gossip to full-blown pop culture phenomenon. As opinions multiplied online, a prominent voice from the sports media world decided to weigh in with a blunt perspective.
Dave Portnoy's Fiery Defense of Brady
Dave Portnoy, the outspoken founder of Barstool Sports, entered the fray by reposting the viral TMZ footage. He directly challenged critics who were fixated on the rumored 23-year age difference between Brady and Earle. "Im seeing lot of negative Nancy's commenting on the 23 year age gap between Brady and Alix Earle," Portnoy tweeted. He added, "Unbiased I say let them live! Age is just a number. And if you could pull Alix Earle at almost 50 you would." He signed off with the hashtag #LaughLoveLive2026.
Adding more context to the speculation, Alix Earle later shared an Instagram carousel wearing the exact same dark plum gown seen in the St. Barts video. The timing was notable because Earle had recently confirmed her breakup with NFL player Braxton Berrios. On December 14, she revealed their split after dating since 2023, citing the challenges of a long-distance relationship.
The Personal Backstories and Brady's Silent Response
On Brady's side, the quarterback has been single since his divorce from supermodel Gisele Bündchen was finalized on October 28, 2022. The former couple was married for 13 years and share two children, Benjamin and Vivian. Following the split, Brady was briefly linked to model Irina Shayk in mid-2023. Bündchen has since moved on, marrying jiu-jitsu instructor Joaquim Valente in December 2025.
Amid the growing online noise, Tom Brady maintained his characteristic calm. He posted two relaxed Instagram Stories, one featuring his backyard and another showing his dog on a golf cart, humorously captioned, "Secret service on Duty ?" This has been his only public response to the swirling rumors, choosing to let the viral clip speak for itself while he focuses on his post-retirement life.
