A prom photo shoot took on another meaning when former NFL placekicker Jay Feely posted a controversial picture of himself standing between his daughter and her date on prom night with a gun on his hand.
No, he wasn't imposing a curfew by packing a pistol but insisted it was a joke after social media commenters lashed out and deemed the photo as inappropriate.
Wishing my beautiful daughter and her date a great time at prom #BadBoys https://t.co/T5JRZQYq9e— Jay Feely (@Jay Feely)1524357672.0
The 41-year-old father tweeted, "Wishing my beautiful daughter and her date a great time at prom #BadBoys," with the hashtag representing an homage to a scene from the movie Bad Boys 2.
He’s referencing a scene in the movie #BadBoys2 The kid knows it’s a joke— it’s not pointed at anyone and barely i… https://t.co/1zQqt8n5Cu— Mike McLeod (@Mike McLeod)1524373947.0
#Reggie https://t.co/lQQvrtGh14— Mike McLeod (@Mike McLeod)1524410249.0
But others didn't laugh along to what they thought was tasteless in the current climate with high school students rallying for stricter gun control in the wake of multiple mass shootings.
The Stoneman Douglas shooting was 2 months ago. But sure, let's make jokes about murdering high schoolers. https://t.co/Km3j9G4Ffn— Geraldine (@Geraldine)1524375404.0
Oh yay - American dads have kicked off the season of “let’s pretend I’m going to shoot my daughter’s date for for i… https://t.co/1Sl4QIhO2Y— Shannon Watts (@Shannon Watts)1524369259.0
Feely, who spent his NFL career on eight teams, including, New York Jets, Arizona Cardinals, and Chicago Bears said that the photo was just a joke that his daughter was in on.
The prom picture I posted was obviously intended to be a joke. My Daughter has dated her boyfriend for over a year and they knew I was joking. I take gun safety seriously (the gun was not loaded and had no clip in) and I did not intend to be insensitive to that important issue.
The prom picture I posted was obviously intended to be a joke. My Daughter has dated her boyfriend for over a year… https://t.co/ifJqaZlYzl— Jay Feely (@Jay Feely)1524408739.0
But his excuse didn't prove he exhibited responsibility.
How is this responsible gun ownership? When did guns become a vehicle for twisted humor? What in the hell is wrong… https://t.co/X8rqq30eUF— Tracy (@Tracy)1524373082.0
One user criticized that exerting parental authority doesn't require brandishing a firearm.
I had dinner with my daughter’s date a week before. I asked their plans, told them to call if they needed anything.… https://t.co/k7CCGneiKp— Thomas Greene (@Thomas Greene)1524374348.0
My point was guns are poor substitute for being a dad. A lot of fragile boys somehow think my daughter’s sexual age… https://t.co/WSxKSfTCyF— Thomas Greene (@Thomas Greene)1524379959.0
And even though he understood it was a joke, he believes that these kinds of images can propagate domestic violence.
I know this is a “joke.” But 1 in 4 women will endure domestic violence and the presence of a gun increases the ris… https://t.co/VTwU1zE1wR— Thomas Greene (@Thomas Greene)1524408536.0
@jayfeely Cool to know if your daughter has any self agency you’ll shoot her boyfriend.— Ally Maynard (@Ally Maynard)1524372687.0
The controversy was lost on this user.
@jayfeely Hey, not a big fan of guns, but there are some times you just have to make a point. In this case, all is… https://t.co/UZttCDKpCQ— Coach Tom Feely (@Coach Tom Feely)1524360327.0
But this summed up what is more appropriate, point blank: to keep some some brands of humor private.
@CoachFeely @jayfeely Maybe a private conversation with the young man would have made a better point than a posting… https://t.co/Z6z5jieMOx— Ramseii (@Ramseii)1524410986.0