Kansas City Chiefs rookie Xavier Worthy found himself on the wrong side of the NFL’s strict celebration rules after his touchdown against the opposition was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct. The rookie wide receiver caught a pass from quarterback Patrick Mahomes, putting the Chiefs on the scoreboard with six points. However, it was his subsequent celebration that ignited controversy.
Worthy, along with fellow receiver Hollywood Brown, began a holiday-themed celebration in which the two appeared to pretend to place presents into a sack—a playful nod to the Christmas spirit. However, the mood shifted when Worthy lifted the side of his shirt, revealing his abdomen. The referee immediately threw a flag for unsportsmanlike conduct, sparking questions about the intent behind the gesture.
Some social media users speculated that the NFL penalized Worthy because his motion resembled the act of revealing a concealed firearm—a gesture that the league has increasingly cracked down on in recent years. The NFL has a strict policy against any celebration mimicking weapons, and the timing of Worthy’s celebration made it easy for some to assume that he was making a gun gesture.
The popular sports account MLFootball tweeted, “WILD: #Chiefs WR Xavier Worthy raised up his shirt and did NOT PULL OUT ANYTHING and the NFL refs assumed just assumed it was a gun motion. Worthy should not have been penalized for this.”
The incident has sparked mixed reactions across social media. Some fans believe the NFL is overreacting to what was clearly a lighthearted holiday celebration, while others argue that the league’s focus on gun-related gestures is a necessary measure to prevent the glorification of violence.
One user on X, formerly Twitter, took issue with the celebration, writing, “He should have been thrown out of the game. Glorifying gun violence, which is a huge problem particularly in the black community, is disgusting. Kids look up to him. He needs to set a better example.” Another echoed similar sentiments, commenting, “No room for the celebration. Got kids at the youth level doing it, high school as well.”
But the controversy didn’t end there. The NFL’s response to Worthy’s celebration has led to some pointing out the league’s hypocrisy. Recently, pop superstar Beyoncé made headlines during her Christmas Day halftime performance by playfully mimicking finger guns, a gesture that many felt was far more blatant than Worthy’s innocuous motion. However, while NFL players routinely face fines for similar actions, Beyoncé’s finger-gun display went without so much as a comment from the league. This inconsistency hasn’t gone unnoticed.
One person jokingly tweeted, “15 yard penalty on Beyoncé. Finger guns,” while another added, “Well, the NFL will be fining Beyoncé next week for those gun fingers.” Some took the opportunity to question the league’s double standard: “Is the @NFL going to fine @Beyonce for finger guns?! #NFL #Beyonce #BeyonceBowl”
Conservative commentator Mario Nawfal added fuel to the fire, writing on X, “🚨🇺🇸 BEYONCÉ PLAYS WITH FIRE: NFL DOUBLE STANDARD GOES VIRAL. Queen Bey’s tone-deaf finger gun display at Netflix’s Christmas game highlights celebrity privilege, while NFL players get fined for basic touchdown celebrations.”
The glaring double standard, combined with the league’s inconsistent approach to weapon-related celebrations, has raised important questions about the NFL’s priorities. While players like Worthy are penalized for what some view as harmless fun, celebrities and high-profile figures seem to be given a pass, undermining the integrity of the league’s policies. In the eyes of many, the NFL should apply its rules evenly and fairly to all, whether it’s a rookie celebrating in the end zone or a pop star performing at halftime.
