Just like millions of Americans, Anthony Donatelli loves football. The California father of two shared his love of the game with his kids soon after they were born. Now, his 4-year-old daughter, Reese, shares her dad’s passion. Donatelli posts snippets of his family’s life on social media, and much of his content involves football. For the last few NFL seasons, he’s featured a series called “Trust the Toddler” with Reese, in which she would make her picks for upcoming football games. It seemed innocent enough until some wild adults ruined the fun by taking things way too far.
Donatelli told the Los Angeles Times that people began filling the comment section on his posts with really hateful comments about Reese. Some even left death threats. What started as something fun took a twisted turn, leaving Donatelli shaken.
“It’s nuts,” the heartbroken dad told the Times. “She’s obviously not an NFL analyst. She’s picking teams based on the color of her dress, or she’ll pick the Packers because she likes cheese. She just relates these silly little things as reasons why she picks certain teams.”
These innocent posts should have been a source of fun and light, not anger.
“We’re just very sad right now with the negative turn this has taken for our family,” he told People. “Our only intention was to create something lighthearted that might get parents and kids interested in the sport that we love so much — football.”
Donatelli posted Reese’s last video on January 18. Reese correctly predicted a New England Patriots win a few days earlier, and Donatelli celebrated the win. The Pats will take on the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX on February 8.
“THE GENERATIONAL FADE RUN IS FINALLY OVER!” he wrote on Instagram. People in the comment section teased some but had fun with Reese.
“I listened to this wonderful little girl for my sports bets last weekend,” someone wrote. “Today I lost my car, the bailiffs seized my house, and I’m writing this comment from a cybercafé.”
“Bro i put 10 Million on Houston becuase of her. Im in more debt than the us government now,” another person joked.
Some fans just wanted Reese to quit while she was ahead. “Don’t make anymore predictions bookie! Thank you. Go Pats!” a fan cheered.
Others wondered when Donatelli would post another video with a prediction for the big game.
“When you dropping the video,” a fan asked.
It doesn’t sound like he will, however. This is a 4-year-old kid who just wanted to spend some time being silly with her dad, so they’re keeping future predictions private. Sadly, people who take life way too seriously ruined it for those who enjoyed her predictions. Once again, weirdo adults on the internet are why we can’t have nice things.
