The Los Angeles Rams are currently 11-4 and sit just behind the Seattle Seahawks (12-3) in the NFC West. However, their outstanding season is presently overshadowed by questionable actions from star wide receiver, Puka Nacua.
Is Fame Starting to Test Puka Nacua’s Foundation?
Emmanuel Acho, a former NFL linebacker turned sports analyst, thinks stardom and the bright lights of Los Angeles have Nacua drinking too much of his own Kool-Aid.
With controversies surrounding antisemitic gestures and public criticism of NFL officials surfacing this week, it appears to Acho that the “janitor player,” one who does all the work and avoids both attention and scrutiny, has slowly been replaced by someone who believes too much of their own press.
Nacua certainly seemed to enter the league in 2023 as a humble, hard-working prospect with no trouble or drama on or off the field, initially graceful in playing second fiddle to Super Bowl LVI MVP Cooper Kupp, Acho noted. Somewhere within the last two years, though, his humility was lost amid his notoriety, and his judgment was clouded by fame.
“These last 12-24 months, Puka done changed up,” Acho said on his “Speakeasy” YouTube show, alongside co-host and former NFL running back LeSean McCoy. “He got drama off the field hitting the timeline, hitting TMZ, relationally. He got drama with [Rams coach] Sean McVay. Had to apologize to Sean McVay for trying to bring in the little streamer people. Had to apologize [Thursday] to the Jewish community for an antisemitic gesture.
“His brother, I believe, stole a vehicle from a Lakers player, and they found that out because he took it to the valet. His brother at the UFL game slapped a fan, and then Puka [Thursday] charging up the refs after calling out the refs. I just think we’re watching Puka deal with success, and on the outside in, it looks like it’s getting to his head.”
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Nacua was forced to apologize Thursday after engaging in an antisemitic gesture during a livestream with internet personality Adin Ross, which was also shortly followed by a later-deleted X post doubling down on comments from the same stream suggesting NFL officials simply make calls to get television airtime.
“When I appeared the other day on a social media livestream, it was suggested to me to perform a specific movement as part of my next touchdown celebration,” Nacua posted on Instagram after an outpouring of backlash online. “At the time, I had no idea this act was antisemitic in nature and perpetuated harmful stereotypes against Jewish people.
“I deeply apologize to anyone who was offended by my actions, as I do not stand for any form of racism, bigotry, or hate of another group of people.”
Nacua’s Numbers Don’t Negate the Noise
Nacua, 24, went on to haul in 12 passes for 225 yards and two touchdowns Thursday night in a 38-37 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, but his ensuing comments online instantly pushed an unstoppable performance out of focus.
“Can you say I was wrong? Appreciate you stripes for your contribution. Lol,” Puka wrote, referencing the accusations of attention-seeking he leveraged against referees during the stream with Ross.
Nacua had previously claimed, in what he described as a “moment of frustration,” that NFL officials “are the worst” and speculated they engage in group chats to flaunt improper calls because “these guys are human beings, too.”
“I know this guy’s heart,” McVay commented. “For anybody that was offended, terribly sorry about that. I know he feels that exact same way. He’s a young guy, a great kid that’s continuing to learn about the platform that he has. I love him. We’re going to continue to put our arm around him and help him learn and grow, but we never want to do things that ever offend anybody, and I know he feels that same way.”
The NFL has fined Nacua $25,000 for his comments about officiating, NFL Network Insider Mike Garafolo reported Friday.
What a terrible story lol