The fiancée of Cleveland Browns quarterback Dillon Gabriel has provoked a social media storm after appearing to mock the team following their latest defeat. Zoe Caswell posted a video on TikTok that has drawn significant criticism from sections of the Browns fanbase.
Social Media Post Draws Fan Ire
On Sunday night, after the Browns fell to a 26-8 loss against the San Francisco 49ers, Caswell shared a 'getting ready' video. The clip, set to music, showed her selecting an outfit for the game. However, it was the caption that caused controversy: 'Browns loss what's new', accompanied by a crying-with-laughter emoji.
The post arrived during a sensitive period for the team's quarterback position. Rookie Dillon Gabriel, who started six games earlier in the season, lost his starting role after suffering a concussion in the Week 11 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. He was replaced by Shedeur Sanders, who impressed in a win against the Las Vegas Raiders and retained the job for the 49ers game.
Caswell Defends 'Joke' Amid Backlash
Despite the team's 3-9 record, many fans were unimpressed with Caswell's wording. One commenter expressed disappointment, stating she should 'support his team whether he is in it or not'. Another pointedly asked, 'I don’t remember these captions when ya man was qb1.'
Caswell was quick to defend her post, insisting it was meant in jest. Replying to critics, she wrote, 'I completely support the team 100%! Gotta laugh about the losses or else we'll cry.' In a separate comment, she added, 'For everyone complaining about the caption, I obviously am cheering for the Browns… it’s clearly a joke. If we don’t laugh, we cry.'
Quarterback Situation Remains in Flux
On the field, the quarterback drama continues. Despite the heavy loss to the playoff-chasing 49ers, head coach Kevin Stefanski has confirmed that Shedeur Sanders will start again this Sunday against the struggling Tennessee Titans (1-11). Sanders, a fifth-round pick, went 16-25 for 149 yards and one touchdown against San Francisco.
After the game, Sanders reflected on the performance, saying, 'There's definitely things on film I'm going to look back and want to get back... at least moving forward I know what we could do differently.' Gabriel saw just one snap late in the fourth quarter after Sanders briefly left the field with an ankle issue.
The Browns, who drafted Gabriel with the 94th overall pick, face a tough end to the season after the Titans game, with fixtures against the Chicago Bears, Buffalo Bills, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Cincinnati Bengals.
