Tiger Woods Calls Out NFL’s “Dirty PR Stunt” With Bad Bunny, Says Fans and Media Are “Feeding the Machine”

October 5, 2025 | Palm Beach, Florida

Golf icon Tiger Woods has never been one to dive into pop-culture controversies — until now. In a surprising move, the 15-time major champion has weighed in on the NFL’s viral collaboration with Bad Bunny, accusing the league of “exploiting culture for attention” and calling the reaction surrounding it “a perfect example of modern media manipulation.”

While Woods stopped short of openly condemning the Puerto Rican superstar, his message was clear: the NFL is using Bad Bunny’s fame as bait — and fans, influencers, and even journalists are taking the bait without question.

“This isn’t about football or music,” Woods wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter). “It’s about distraction. It’s a dirty PR stunt — and too many people are falling for it.”

“They’re Not Celebrating Him, They’re Using Him”

The controversy erupted after the NFL unveiled a new promotional campaign featuring Bad Bunny during a high-profile game weekend. The collaboration, which included live performances, merchandise drops, and extensive social-media crossovers, was intended to highlight “the global intersection of sports and music.”

But Woods wasn’t buying it.

“They’re not celebrating his success,” he continued. “They’re using it. This isn’t respect for culture — it’s exploitation dressed as entertainment.”

His statement quickly went viral, amassing over 75 million views within 12 hours. Fans and critics flooded social media to dissect his remarks, with many praising Woods for “cutting through the noise,” while others accused him of being cynical and out of touch.

Bad Bunny in the Crossfire

Bad Bunny, who has previously performed at major sports events and even appeared as a celebrity guest at Super Bowl festivities, found himself at the center of a cultural tug-of-war he never asked for.

In Woods’ view, the artist himself isn’t to blame — but the system that surrounds him is.

“Bad Bunny’s an incredible talent,” Woods clarified in a follow-up post. “But when big organizations see viral opportunity instead of artistry, that’s when it gets ugly.”

It’s not the first time the musician has been accused of being overexposed by corporate marketing. Still, Woods’ critique — coming from a world-renowned athlete known for his precision and self-discipline — added unexpected weight to the conversation.

“The Real Problem Is the Hype Cycle”

Beyond his criticism of the NFL, Woods turned his attention to the public reaction itself, describing it as “the real problem.”

“Every post, every hashtag, every fake outrage — it all fuels the same machine,” he wrote. “The more we talk about it, the more power we give it.”

He went on to describe modern media culture as “a loop of outrage and attention,” arguing that corporations have learned to manipulate fan passion into viral trends.

“It’s not about caring anymore,” Woods said. “It’s about clicking.”

Those words resonated deeply with many followers who viewed Woods as one of the few athletes willing to call out the darker side of modern marketing. Others, however, accused him of hypocrisy, pointing out his long history with major sponsorships and media partnerships.

“Tiger’s criticizing PR when his career was built on PR?” one user commented. “Come on.”

Still, even detractors admitted that his argument about the hype economy struck a nerve.

Sports Meets Celebrity Culture

Experts say Woods’ comments highlight a growing tension between sports authenticity and entertainment marketing.

“The line between athlete and influencer has blurred,” said Dr. Lisa Herrera, a sports media professor at UCLA. “What Tiger’s reacting to isn’t just the NFL’s partnership with Bad Bunny — it’s the commodification of fame itself.”

Herrera notes that the NFL’s strategy is not unique. From the NBA’s celebrity courtside culture to Formula 1’s collaborations with pop stars, sports leagues are increasingly relying on entertainment icons to attract younger audiences.

“It’s a logical business move,” she added. “But to purists like Woods, it feels like the integrity of sport is being sacrificed for virality.”

Fans Divided: Visionary or Contrarian?

As expected, reaction online has been polarized.

Many fans applauded Woods for taking a philosophical stance rather than a personal attack. “He’s not bashing Bad Bunny — he’s exposing the system,” one supporter wrote. “Finally, someone in sports is calling it what it is: a circus for clicks.”

Others saw it differently: “Tiger’s trying to sound deep, but he’s just stirring the pot,” a critic posted. “No one’s forcing him to watch the NFL.”

Within 24 hours, hashtags like #DirtyPR and #TigerSpeaksTruth began trending, while major outlets — from ESPN to TMZ — published think pieces debating whether Woods had become a moral commentator or simply an old-school athlete resisting cultural change.

The Broader Message: A Warning About Influence

Woods’ post may have started as a critique of the NFL, but it evolved into something larger — a reflection on how modern fame operates.

“Every headline, every trending topic is engineered,” he wrote. “We’ve stopped asking who benefits from our attention.”

He ended his thread with a single, pointed line:

“If you think you’re just watching a game, you’re already part of the marketing plan.”

That sentence alone was shared more than 300,000 times across social media, cementing his status — at least for the moment — as the unlikely voice of skepticism in a hyper-connected entertainment age.

Silence from the NFL, Storm on the Internet

The NFL has yet to officially comment on Woods’ accusations. Bad Bunny’s representatives have also remained silent.

However, behind the scenes, insiders report that league executives were “not pleased” with Woods’ remarks, fearing they could overshadow the campaign’s intended message of cultural unity.

“No one expected Tiger Woods, of all people, to call this out,” one insider told Variety Sports. “It’s embarrassing for the league that the story became about PR instead of performance.”

A Legend Still Unafraid to Speak Out

At 49, Woods has entered a new phase of his public life — one less defined by championship trophies and more by introspection. In recent years, he’s become increasingly outspoken about ethics, legacy, and the future of sports.

Whether fans agree with him or not, one thing remains clear: when Tiger Woods speaks, the world listens.

As one viral post put it:

“Tiger didn’t just hit a golf ball this time — he hit a nerve.”