Trust the Toddler” Turns Turbulent as Viral NFL Predictions Spark Fan Backlash

Kaitlyn Nielsen | Sports Editor

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A family tradition surrounding celebrating football and bonding for a father and daughter has quickly turned into an internet sensation. The series has ignited intense controversy on TikTok, all surrounding playoff predictions made by a four-year-old girl. 

The series, titled “Trust the Toddler”, began for the Donatelli family as a way to share their daughter’s game predictions. The layout of the videos is simple. Prior to the game, the daughter would select one of the two helmets for the team she believes will win. The videos are short, lighthearted, and intended to be an innocent guess. 

The series has spanned multiple NFL seasons, with so many predictions that the child has made numerous correct picks. This resulted in the family making the decision to raise the stakes, having their child predict the winners for this season's playoffs. This decision quickly turned into something the family would’ve never anticipated. 

The NFL playoffs are a high-intensity time for teams and fans alike. This particular NFL season has been filled with countless upsets and unforeseen injuries plaguing many teams. As the games began, unfortunately, Donatelli's daughter made some unbecoming calls. Following the end of the first round, the child had gone 1-9, only correctly predicting the Patriots' win against the Chargers. Almost immediately, the families page was flooded with aggressive reactions from fans of the teams that were eliminated. Some commenters took it too lightly, joking about the toddlers' role in their team's loss, while others took it way beyond the realm of lighthearted humor. What started as a wholesome family tradition became a hostile environment filled with hateful messages towards the four-year-old. 

The online hostility towards the family only progressed when popular rapper Cardi B voiced her opinions regarding the toddler's newest predictions. Taking to Instagram live, the rapper used vulgar comments to convey her particular frustrations regarding the toddler’s pick against the New England Patriots. The remark only sparked continuous negative online attention and reaction for the family. 

The online discourse between commentators led to the idea of a so-called “curse” that the toddler placed on teams that she predicted to win. The idea was taken as far as fans placing bets on opposing teams simply because the child picked the other side. A video that was originally meant to entertain now begun to influence gambling amongst fans. 

Through the waves of backlash, the family has taken a stance to not stop the series. The father stated that for their family, it is not about the wins, losses, or viral fame; it is about the tradition and bonding it brings to their family. 

The series is a great reminder of the high stakes, emotional fanbases, and intense rivalries that fill the sports world. The reactions highlight how far fandoms take their dedication to their teams, even if the source is a young child holding a plastic helmet. At the end of the day, the Dontatellis and their “Trust the Toddler” series remain exactly as it started, an innocent tradition.