In the world of sports, balancing family time with professional commitments can be challenging. LeBron James’ elder son and Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Bronny James, understood that hard way this week as he found himself sidelined from the beloved family ritual. The James family is famous for their festive taco gatherings, often sharing lively videos that capture the fun and joy of their weekly celebrations. But this Tuesday Bronny, stuck in practice, had to keep that at bay. A disappointed Bronny took to his Instagram to share it.

Bronny lamented missing out on this cherished tradition. In a recent video, he shared his frustration writing, “When you are stuck at practice and find out Taco bell is about to drop a contract for a free taco every TACO TUESDAY for a year.” To make matters even more enticing, Taco Bell is set to announce a new promotion offering free tacos every Taco Tuesday for a year, which only adds to Bronny’s dismay. Later last month, Taco Bell came up with a piece of significant news for the taco lovers.

The very first day of October turned extra tasty since it was a Tuesday. So they announced some special deals for the taco lovers for the entire month. On October 1, there were hourly drops of $1 tacos. On October 8, 5 Rewards Members won a VIP visit to the Taco Bell Test Kitchen. Bronny referred to the October 15 deal in which 500 Rewards Members will win a free taco every Taco Tuesday for a year. But Bronny might still have his chance to celebrate because there are still two more Tuesdays in the month and that means two more deals. Here they are!

• October 22 – 50,000 Rewards Members can pick one of eight Taco Bell classics for just $1 .
• October 29 – Get a chance to win one of 500 limited edition Taco Bell hoodies and cup bundles.

Well, Bronny has reason to be disappointed for missing one Tuesday. Can you imagine how dear this weekly Tuesday festivity is to LeBron and his family? Let’s go back to 2019.

That was the year when LeBron did not play in the NBA finals after the Lakers failed to make it to the postseason. But while the Raptors and Warriors prepare to compete for the trophy, LeBron seemed unaffected by it. In a video posted to his son Bronny’s Instagram story in March of that year, he was seen celebrating with his family ahead of what must be a favorite meal of the week, while each of his kids yelled out “TACO TUESDAY!” around the table! Not only that, LeBron did something even more interesting in August of the same year.

ESPN posted a clip on their Instagram, LeBron and his family appeared in a restaurant for Taco Tuesday. And King James brought Taco Tuesday T-shirts for everyone with his face printed on them! His non-profit foundation LeBron James Family Foundation last year arranged special Taco Tuesday eat-out on October 24. If these were not enough to prove the James Family’s love for the occasion, then know this.

LeBron James even joined a legal battle for his beloved Taco Tuesday. And it was for the liberating the Taco Tuesday of its trademark. Taco John’s, a Wyoming-based Mexican restaurant chain with 400 locations had the trademark for “Taco Tuesday” in 49 states since 1989. Last year in May, America’s largest Mexican-inspired fast-food chain Taco Bell announced of filing legal petitions via the USPTO Trademark Trial and Appeal Board to free the phrase for restaurants nationwide by canceling the federal trademark registrations for “Taco Tuesday.”

Within days LeBron joined the movement. “Taco Tuesday’ is a tradition that everyone should be able to celebrate. All restaurants, all families, all businesses – everybody. ‘Taco Tuesdays’ create opportunities that bring people together in so many ways, and it’s a celebration that nobody should own,” James had said in a statement released by Taco Bell. Interestingly, LeBron himself tried to do that in 2019.

James’ company had attempted to trademark the phrase ‘Taco Tuesday’. But it was denied by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, which ruled that it was a “commonplace term.” According to ESPN, James sought to monetize the videos by filing the trademark. A spokesman for James told ESPN’s Dave McMenamin that the application was filed “to ensure LeBron cannot be sued for any use of ‘Taco Tuesday.'”

After the rejection, LeBron launched a Taco Bell commercial titled “Taco Bleep”, which the company said was to “highlight the absurdity of ‘Taco Tuesday’ being ‘trademarked’ and encouraging the taco community to join together in support of the liberation movement.”No more trademarks, no more bleeps, starting right now,” LeBron was heard saying in the commercial, which began airing on May 22, 2023 and coincides with Taco Bell’s recently launched petition. Their movement seemed to have paid off.

In July 2023, Taco John’s relinquished it. “We’ve always prided ourselves on being the home of Taco Tuesday, but paying millions of dollars to lawyers to defend our mark just doesn’t feel like the right thing to do. As we’ve said before, we’re lovers, not fighters at Taco John’s,” Taco John’s CEO Jim Creel had said in a statement. And this year there was one more significant development.

Taco Bell teamed up with the National Day Calendar so that National Taco Day, which had been celebrated on October 4 for all these years, will always be on a Tuesday. that is the first Tuesday in October. Understandably, this year is extra special for taco lovers. So, as Bronny is stuck at practice, the James family continues to uphold their taco tradition. Looking at Bronny’s miss, fans quickly took to social media, expressing their thoughts on his situation and the significance of this family tradition.

A Taco Tuesday to Remember

Fans reacted to Bronny James’ frustration at missing Taco Tuesday with a mix of humor and empathy, highlighting the strong bond between him and his supporters. The beloved family tradition, known for its joyful gatherings and videos, holds a special place in their hearts. One fan humorously quipped, “When you stuck at practice and find out your dad traded you…,” exaggerating the disappointment of being sidelined while the rest of the family enjoys their weekly celebration.

Another fan chimed in, “Give him a break, TACO TUESDAYYYYYYY🔥🔥🔥,” emphasizing how Taco Tuesday is more than just a meal; it’s a cherished ritual for the James family. This reaction underscores the shared sentiment that Bronny’s commitment to practice shouldn’t overshadow the fun of family traditions.

Interestingly, the term “Taco Tuesday” has gone through a lot. It all started on February 6, 1979. The first restaurant to coin the phrase Taco Tuesday was Gregory’s Restaurant & Bar in New Jersey. Two years later, Gregory’s applied for and successfully secured a federal registration for the TACO TUESDAY trademark. But the trademark registration had to be periodically renewed by submitting evidence of continued use of the trademark. Failure to comply with this requirement was supposed to lead to the cancelation of the trademark registration.

Around the same time, Taco John’s was also using the term. And, they were also trying to secure the trademark registration. In 1989, Gregory’s made a mistake. They failed to timely submit evidence of continued use. The USPTO, consequently, on April 21, 1989, canceled Gregory’s TACO TUESDAY registration. Taco Joh’s did not waste time to grab the opportunity.

On March 23, 1989, Taco John’s filed its own trademark application for TACO TUESDAY. With Gregory’s trademark registration cancelled, it was a one-sided battle. They went away with the federal trademark registration for TACO TUESDAY. Indeed, Taco Bell was instrumental in finally freeing the term of the trademark.

Fans did not seem to forget that as they showed their loyalty to both Bronny and Taco Bell. One fan declared, “My goat I’m going to get Taco Bell today just because you’re promoting them!” This highlights his influence, as his endorsement can drive fans to indulge in Taco Bell, reinforcing his status as a role model. Additionally, another fan added humor with, “Tacooo Tuesday! * High pitch bronvoice lol 🙌,” playfully mimicking Bronny’s excitement.

These reactions collectively illustrate a vibrant community that rallies around Bronny, blending admiration with the joy of shared family traditions. Despite his frustration, it’s clear that fans are ready to support him—and the beloved Taco Tuesday tradition—every step of the way.