Olympic swimming legend Michael Phelps has found himself at the centre of a social media storm after a video of him sharing an intimate moment with an Instagram model went viral.
The Incident at the Celebrity Poker Tournament
The incident occurred during a celebrity poker tournament in Las Vegas on Wednesday night. Phelps, a married father of four, was participating in the event alongside other notable figures including former NBA star Paul Pierce, tennis player Taylor Fritz, and Impractical Joker Joe Gatto.
Although the 23-time Olympic gold medalist had already been eliminated from the competition, he returned to the table after model India Love made an off-camera poker move. In a moment that was captured on video, Phelps wrapped his arms around the 29-year-old influencer and held her for nearly a minute.
Love was heard saying, 'You see me? I'm doing my damn thing. They ain't f***ing with me'. Phelps nodded in agreement and responded, 'I see you', while maintaining his embrace.
Social Media Backlash and Fan Reaction
The video quickly spread across social media platforms, with many users expressing concern and criticism directed at the Olympic champion. One user pointedly commented, 'If my husband did this while i was pregnant i'd be so p***ed'.
Although Phelps' wife, Nicole, is not currently pregnant, she had shared a throwback pregnancy photo of their youngest son Nico just three days before the poker tournament. This timing added fuel to the online discourse.
Other social media reactions included questions like 'Don't he got a wife?' and observations such as 'Bro doing too much atp [at this point]' and '4 kids and a wife btw.' The interaction was so unexpected that it prompted one user to question, 'He not married anymore?!?!'
Context and Recent Appearances
Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian in history with 28 medals, shares four sons with his wife Nicole: Boomer, 9, Beckett, 7, Maverick, 6, and Nico. The couple have been married since 2016.
This isn't the first time Phelps has gone viral recently. Just last week, the swimming legend surprised fans with his dramatically changed appearance while attending the World Business Forum in Sydney. He sported grown-out hair pulled back into a bun, a stark contrast to his familiar Olympic look of neoprene shorts and a streamlined physique.
At the business forum, Phelps was seen wearing a sophisticated white patterned shirt with navy trousers and a jacket as he entered the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre. He shared the speaking platform with notable figures including US scholar Amy Edmondson and marketing specialist Guy Kawasaki.
While the specific topics of his presentation remain unclear, the recent poker tournament incident has undoubtedly shifted public attention toward his personal life rather than his professional endeavours.
