Football star derided as gay for bringing pink accessories to women’s basketball game

Caleb Williams, star quarterback for USC and anticipated No. 1 NFL draft pick in 2024, roiled social media this week with a pink phone and matching wallet and painted nails.

He was courtside supporting USC women’s basketball Monday night when the mini-March Madness exploded online.

Related: Bud Light partners with comedian who lost ‘SNL’ gig for using racial and anti-gay slurs

The partnership appears to be another example of the brand’s desperation to win back its conservative critics.

He’s “a Dylan Mulvaney wannabe,” one X user tweeted, comparing Williams to the onetime trans media partner for Bud Light. “Complete with pink finger nails, lip gloss, and phone!”

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OMG, the Chicago Bears are finally in a position to draft a franchise quarterback, and Caleb Williams is a Dylan Mulvaney wannabe. Complete with pink finger nails, lip gloss, and phone! pic.twitter.com/LhNL7iqubc

— Vince Langman (@LangmanVince) March 27, 2024

The online onslaught labeled Williams a “queen” and “sassy” and speculated he’d be more comfortable in high heels than football cleats.

“Gayleb Williams & Michael Sam spreading their gayness across the NFL,” another user posted to X, referring to the former gay quarterback for the LA Rams who was cut in 2014 after he came out.

Others labeled Williams “effeminate” for parading the pink accessories and wondered if locker rooms would be safe for other players’ manhoods.

Even anti-trans extremist Matt Walsh said there’s “something wrong” with Williams having pink accessories.

There is, in fact, something wrong with it https://t.co/1cHLoIFjYg

— Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) March 28, 2024

The NCAA Division 1 women’s basketball X account shared the video of Williams that blew up the internet Monday night, and the once and future QB1 proudly reposted it.

“Vibes onlyyyyy supporting our girls,” Williams wrote on X.

Vibes onlyyyyy supporting our girls https://t.co/MBULWWdubT

— Caleb Williams (@CALEBcsw) March 26, 2024

The D.C. native won the Heisman Trophy at USC in 2022 and finished his college career with 93 touchdown passes, 14 interceptions, and 10,082 yards in three seasons. He was 23-10 as a starter and appeared in 37 games, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

In ten of those appearances, Williams was responsible for five or more touchdowns. Only Patrick Mahomes had more in the College Football Playoff era.

Williams entered the NFL draft in January as the favorite for the No. 1 spot.

“I’d be shocked if he wasn’t,” one veteran scout told ESPN.

While the internet blowback was predictable, the 22-year-old’s skills on the gridiron are what counts for most armchair quarterbacks online.

“I don’t care if he shoves cucumbers up his a** on the 50, give me a guy who can throw the football and win,” one Reddit fan wrote.

Those wins and whatever other media stunts Williams might want to perform will probably be for the Chicago Bears, who have first pick in this year’s draft.

“If he wins 10 games the city of Chicago wont have a single paintless nail,” another Reddit user posted.

“This is a city that embraced Dennis Rodman at peak weirdo,” one poster riffed. “If Caleb wins and plays tough, the city isn’t going to be a problem.”

“It’s not pink, it’s salmon,” another wrote. “Bears love salmon.”

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