Tom Brady raised some eyebrows with his commentary while calling the Bills-Seahawks game on Fox Sports on Sunday.
Brady — who’s in the first season of his 10-year, $375 million contract with the network — was discussing the growth of Bills quarterback Josh Allen, when he said the two-time Pro Bowler previously played like a “spaz” before he became more controlled under center.
“Sometimes he played like a spaz, like a grade-schooler on a sugar high,” Brady said on the broadcast towards the end of the first quarter while Buffalo had a 7-0 lead over Seattle. “But now he’s controlled the chaos. He’s like a storm coming into town and you don’t want that storm coming into this town.”
The term spaz is a shortened form of the word spastic, which means clumsy, stupid, or losing physical or emotional control.
It is used in some circumstances to describe medical conditions.
It is offensive to some as it is considered to be an ableist slur used for jokes and metaphors to dehumanize those with disabilities.
Brady was the subject of scrutiny online as some were upset about his choice of words.
“The ‘spaz’ comment was uncalled for,” someone wrote on X.
Another said it was “highly offensive to people who have physical disabilities as well as their loved ones.”
One person said it was “sickening vocabulary.”
Others defended Brady and explained the seven-time Super Bowl champ meant no harm.
By the time the game ended, the Bills improved to 6-2 after a 31-10 win over the Seahawks at Lumen Field.
Brady, who has yet to address the matter, isn’t the one who’s used the term in a work setting.
Some famous singers have faced backlash for putting “spaz” in their lyrics, including Lizzo.
In 2022, the four-time Grammy-winner removed the word spaz from her song, “Grrrls” after being called out by disability advocate and writer Hannah Diviney.
