Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua apologized for an antisemitic gesture he made during a recent livestream.
What Happened to Puka Nacua?
Puka Nacua thought he was learning a fun dance… A popular Jewish streamer taught it to him and encouraged him. He promised the Jewish streamer that he would do the dance if he scored a touchdown… Everyone was all smiles, and there were no antisemitic comments or bigotry… pic.twitter.com/ZevTZqCutX
— Misha Turtle Island TV: X Society Xperience 🐢🐰𝕏 (@MishaTurtleX) December 18, 2025
Earlier this week, Nacua appeared on a livestream with Adin Ross and N3on. During their conversation, Ross and N3on made suggestions for Nacua’s next endzone celebration.
During the dance, Ross, who is Jewish, suggested that Nacua spin a dreidel and then clasped his hands together to mimic the “Happy Merchant,” an antisemitic cartoon of a Jewish man.
Nacua completed Ross’ request multiple times.
On Thursday, Nacua apologized for his actions in a social media post.
“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. At the time, I had no idea this act was antisemitic in nature and perpetuated harmful stereotypes against Jewish people,” Nacua wrote in an Instagram post. “I deeply apologize to anyone who was offended by my actions, as I do not stand for any form of racism, bigotr,y or hate of another group of people.”
View this post on Instagram
Besides the antisemitic comments, Nacua also made derogatory comments toward NFL officials.
“The refs are the worst,” Nacua said. “Some of the rules aren’t … These guys want to be … these guys are lawyers. They want to be on TV too. You don’t think he’s texting his friends in the group chat like, ‘Yo, you guys just saw me on Sunday Night Football. That wasn’t P.I., but I called it.'”
NFL Releases Statement
The NFL released a statement condemning “discrimination and derogatory behavior.”
“The NFL strongly condemns all forms of discrimination and derogatory behavior directed towards any group or individual,” the league said in a statement. “The continuing rise of antisemitism must be addressed across the world, and the NFL will continue to stand with our partners in this fight. Hatred has no place in our sport or society.”
Nacua was not mentioned in the statement. The NFL has also not said if it will discipline Nacua for his actions on the livestream.
The Rams also released a statement on Thursday.
“There is no place in this world for antisemitism as well as other forms of prejudice or hostility towards the Jewish people and people of any religion, ethnicity, or race,” the Rams said via ESPN.
The Rams face the Seattle Seahawks for first place in the NFC West on Thursday Night Football.
