New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady drew a bit of controversy recently when a cameo in the Netflix show "Living With Yourself" showed him stepping out of an Asian day spa and getting whisked away in a private car. Many drew comparisons between the scene and Patriots owner Robert Kraft's arrest earlier this year for allegedly receiving sex acts in a Florida massage parlor. Kraft has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
NBC Boston Sports reporter and anchor Trenni Kusnierek joined Boston Public Radio on Tuesday to dissect the controversy.
"If you watch just that clip in and of itself, it does appear to take a little jab at Robert Kraft. Everything from the Asian day spa in a strip mall, to him getting into a limo and being taken away not driving himself not being very conspicuous, all sort of goes with the whole Robert Kraft going to Orchids of Asia day spa," said Kusnierek.
The show stars Paul Rudd as a depressed man who goes the "Top Happy Spa" when a coworker promises the services he receives will make him the best version of himself. Rudd sits outside the spa when he notices Brady walk out. He asks the quarterback if this is his first time visiting the spa. Brady responds, "six."
When asked about his involvement in the show, Brady said the scene — which alludes to his six Super Bowl wins — was written long before Kraft's arrest, and that he didn't know what would appear behind him, as he filmed it on a green screen.
"I think it's this type of media atmosphere that you create. The blame and shame media atmosphere that's kind of percolated for a while. I think there's a lot of things said that are taken out of context," Brady told reporters over the weekend.
Despite Brady's stated intentions, Kusnierek said she's more upset with how he responded to reporters.
"I'm going to be honest: If you watch the whole episode, it doesn't — it really doesn't — [explicitly draw connections to Kraft]," she said. "My whole issue with this is the way Brady reacted to it and him deflecting any sort of responsibility, because you do have a personal responsibility. ... To feign ignorance and then turn it around and blame it on everyone else, that's what I take issue with."
