Rob Gronkowski found himself at the center of a political firestorm this week, and it all started with a photo op. The retired NFL star and girlfriend Camille Kostek were outside a New Hampshire polling place on November 3, where Gronk signed merchandise and posed with fans near a tent featuring the Turning Point USA logo. The images spread fast, and speculation about his political affiliations took off online.
A Turning Point USA rep quickly clarified that Gronkowski is not part of the group and only walked past a branded table. Then Gronk addressed it himself on November 5 with an Instagram statement, calling the narratives“upsetting and eye-opening”and saying he greeted fans“across the political spectrum”before leaving. He added that it was disappointing to see an innocent moment stripped of context and turned into clickbait. Kostek reshared his statement on her own account.
The whole situation is a reminder of how quickly a simple photo can become a full-blown story online. Have you ever had a picture or post taken out of context? Tell us about it in the comments.
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.