{"id":223381,"date":"2026-02-17T16:12:19","date_gmt":"2026-02-17T16:12:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/02\/17\/michael-jordan-under-fire-for-inappropriately-touching-child\/"},"modified":"2026-02-17T16:12:19","modified_gmt":"2026-02-17T16:12:19","slug":"michael-jordan-under-fire-for-inappropriately-touching-child","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/02\/17\/michael-jordan-under-fire-for-inappropriately-touching-child\/","title":{"rendered":"Michael Jordan Under Fire for &#8216;Inappropriately&#8217; Touching Child"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p><span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 4<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Everyone\u2019s asking the same question: <\/p>\n<p><em>What in the world is Michael Jordan doing?<\/em><\/p>\n<p>A short video clip appears to show the 62-year-old basketball legend having a \u201ccreepy\u201d interaction with a child.<\/p>\n<p>In the video, he appears to touch the boy from behind. What\u2019s happening?<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><noscript><\/noscript><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0217_michaeljordan_01-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Michael Jordan in October 2025.\" class=\"wp-image-548577 lazyload\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0217_michaeljordan_01-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0217_michaeljordan_01-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0217_michaeljordan_01-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0217_michaeljordan_01-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0217_michaeljordan_01-960x640.jpg 960w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0217_michaeljordan_01-1080x720.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0217_michaeljordan_01-1200x800.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0217_michaeljordan_01-scaled.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Michael Jordan, NBA Hall of Famer and co-owner of 23XI Racing listens to the race on pit road during the NASCAR Cup Series Bank of America ROVAL 400 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on October 05, 2025.<span class=\"image-caption-credit\"> (Photo Credit: Jordan Bank\/Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-wtf-is-going-on\">WTF is going on?<\/h2>\n<p>In the video clip that you can see below, Jordan appears to reach out to touch a young boy, or at least his clothing, from behind.<\/p>\n<p>After touching the boy\u2019s shirt and pants, he then appears to touch the boy\u2019s leg.<\/p>\n<p>The boy hardly seems to reach except to briefly turn around, looking unfazed.<\/p>\n<p>Descriptions probably do not do the video justice \u2014 some people see a familiar gesture of trying to help a boy with his clothes. <\/p>\n<p>Others see a predatory act \u2014 one carried out brazenly and in the public eye.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-theme=\"dark\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">What is Michael Jordan doing \ud83d\ude2d\ud83d\ude2d\ud83d\ude2d <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/sVZeTGGgXI\" target=\"_blank\">pic.twitter.com\/sVZeTGGgXI<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 BrickCenter (@BrickCenter_) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BrickCenter_\/status\/2023210173754720375?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">February 16, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>To be clear, there\u2019s nothing happening here that resembles a grope.<\/p>\n<p>There is also no genital contact, no sign of even an attempt to reach underneath clothing.<\/p>\n<p>However, that did not stop the video from circulating across social media on multiple platforms.<\/p>\n<p>Replies describe the video as \u201ccreepy,\u201d as \u201cbizarre,\u201d and as \u201cinappropriate.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Some took to greater extremes, posting memes suggesting a threat of violence against the NBA icon.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0217_michaeljordan_02-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Michael Jordan in February 2026.\" class=\"wp-image-548578\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0217_michaeljordan_02-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0217_michaeljordan_02-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0217_michaeljordan_02-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0217_michaeljordan_02-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0217_michaeljordan_02-960x640.jpg 960w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0217_michaeljordan_02-1080x720.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0217_michaeljordan_02-1200x800.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\"\/><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0217_michaeljordan_02-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Michael Jordan in February 2026.\" class=\"wp-image-548578 lazyload\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0217_michaeljordan_02-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0217_michaeljordan_02-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0217_michaeljordan_02-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0217_michaeljordan_02-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0217_michaeljordan_02-960x640.jpg 960w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0217_michaeljordan_02-1080x720.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0217_michaeljordan_02-1200x800.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0217_michaeljordan_02-scaled.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Michael Jordan, NBA Hall of Famer and co-owner of 23XI Racing reacts in victory lane after Tyler Reddick, driver of the #45 Chumba Casino Toyota, wins the NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 15, 2026.<span class=\"image-caption-credit\"> (Photo Credit: Chris Graythen\/Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-maybe-there-s-a-much-more-normal-explanation-for-what-s-happening\">Maybe there\u2019s a much more normal explanation for what\u2019s happening<\/h2>\n<p>Is Jordan just being playful here with the child?<\/p>\n<p>Actually, a lot of people believe that he\u2019s trying to help the kid.<\/p>\n<p>From the video, it appears that the boy\u2019s shirt is wet \u2014 perhaps from a spilled beverage or simply water.<\/p>\n<p>What would you do \u2014 especially if you are a parent and a grandparent \u2014 if you saw a kid with soaking wet clothes?<\/p>\n<p>Well, you might reflexively reach out to try to help, such as by un-sticking the wet clothes from the kid\u2019s skin.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0217_michaeljordan_03-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Michael Jordan this week.\" class=\"wp-image-548579\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0217_michaeljordan_03-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0217_michaeljordan_03-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0217_michaeljordan_03-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0217_michaeljordan_03-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0217_michaeljordan_03-960x640.jpg 960w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0217_michaeljordan_03-1080x720.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0217_michaeljordan_03-1200x800.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\"\/><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0217_michaeljordan_03-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Michael Jordan this week.\" class=\"wp-image-548579 lazyload\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0217_michaeljordan_03-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0217_michaeljordan_03-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0217_michaeljordan_03-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0217_michaeljordan_03-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0217_michaeljordan_03-960x640.jpg 960w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0217_michaeljordan_03-1080x720.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0217_michaeljordan_03-1200x800.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0217_michaeljordan_03-scaled.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Michael Jordan, NBA Hall of Famer and co-owner of 23XI Racing reacts in victory lane after Tyler Reddick, driver of the #45 Chumba Casino Toyota, wins the NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 15, 2026.<span class=\"image-caption-credit\"> (Photo Credit: James Gilbert\/Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Additionally, others pointed out that <em>most <\/em>actual predators tend to be more circumspect.<\/p>\n<p>Most predators work to conceal their true nature in addition to their crimes, particularly when out in public.<\/p>\n<p>Only someone who believes that they cannot face consequences is likely to simply reach out and touch someone, be they an adult or a child, with predatory intentions.<\/p>\n<p>(This feeling of immunity can extend to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehollywoodgossip.com\/2025\/11\/jeffrey-epstein-says-trump-knew-about-the-girls-spent-several-hours-with-victim-in-shocking-new-emails\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">the rich and powerful<\/a> and also to men whose depravity is normalized in the culture and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehollywoodgossip.com\/2025\/11\/megyn-kelly-epstein-not-a-pedophile-trump-emails\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">defended by the likes of Megyn Kelly<\/a>)<\/p>\n<p>Right now, even the wealthiest men on the planet know that groping a kid on camera could make them public enemy #1. Which makes it seem more likely that Jordan was simply helping a kid, and didn\u2019t imagine anyone perceiving his actions otherwise.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"713\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0217_michaeljordan_04-1024x713.jpg\" alt=\"Michael Jordan in August 2024.\" class=\"wp-image-548580\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0217_michaeljordan_04-1024x713.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0217_michaeljordan_04-300x209.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0217_michaeljordan_04-768x535.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0217_michaeljordan_04-960x669.jpg 960w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0217_michaeljordan_04-1080x752.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0217_michaeljordan_04-1200x836.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0217_michaeljordan_04.jpg 1680w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\"\/><\/noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"713\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0217_michaeljordan_04-1024x713.jpg\" alt=\"Michael Jordan in August 2024.\" class=\"wp-image-548580 lazyload\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0217_michaeljordan_04-1024x713.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0217_michaeljordan_04-300x209.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0217_michaeljordan_04-768x535.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0217_michaeljordan_04-960x669.jpg 960w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0217_michaeljordan_04-1080x752.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0217_michaeljordan_04-1200x836.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0217_michaeljordan_04.jpg 1680w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0217_michaeljordan_04.jpg\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Michael Jordan, NBA Hall of Famer and co-owner of 23XI Racing looks on from his pit box during a weather delay prior to the NASCAR Cup Series FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway on August 18, 2024.<span class=\"image-caption-credit\"> (Photo Credit: Logan Riely\/Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-that-explanation-makes-a-lot-of-sense-but\">That explanation makes a lot of sense, but \u2026<\/h2>\n<p>It is much more reasonable to assume that Jordan was reflexively helping a kid out, and the idea that there are predatory adults out there who might touch a child inappropriately was the furthest thing from his mind.<\/p>\n<p>However, we can acknowledge that the touch appears to be somewhat inappropriate. <em>Not <\/em>because he touched him \u2018inappropriately,\u201d but because he could have asked first.<\/p>\n<p>It is almost always best to ask permission before touching someone. Yes, that includes children. Children are people.<\/p>\n<p>Unfortunately, this is only the latest incident of people taking non-sexual, non-predatory photos and videos of famous people and children and attempting to reframe them as something sinister.<\/p>\n<p>Yes, there are evil men who prey upon children. We should keep things in perspective: most sexual predators do not believe that they are untouchable, and keep their crimes a secret. And their victims are usually within their own families.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehollywoodgossip.com\/2026\/02\/michael-jordan-child-video\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Reading Time: 4 minutes Everyone\u2019s asking the same question: What in the world is Michael Jordan doing? A short video clip appears to show the 62-year-old basketball legend having a \u201ccreepy\u201d interaction with a child. In the video, he appears to touch the boy from behind. What\u2019s happening? Michael Jordan, NBA Hall of Famer and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":223382,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-223381","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-hollywood"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/223381","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=223381"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/223381\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/223382"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=223381"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=223381"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=223381"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}