During the 2024 Paris Olympics, Bronny James was courtside with someone. Well, no, it was not his mum or siblings. Instead, it was his high school lady love, Parker Whitfield. They graduated from Sierra Canyon High School in 2023, sharing common interests in sports, Cupid surely played his role. However, it looks like LeBron’s firstborn’s private life is out before the public eye. And let’s just say, fans aren’t particularly happy with it.

On Friday, that is, Feb.14, the world celebrated Valentine’s Day. It’s only natural to assume that the 20-year-old Lakers shooting guard must have had something special prepared for his girlfriend. However, for ESPN covering this particular piece of news turned into a full-time nightmare. In an Instagram post, the media moguls shared a carousel of photos. It included a mirror selfie of the couple with Bronny standing behind Parker, planting a kiss on her cheek. Another slide had a photo of a bedroom decorated with red heart balloons and rose petals.

Fans seem to feel, that the media giants may have invaded Bronny James’ privacy by sharing the personal photos. Moreover, ESPN’s 27.9 million IG followers are trying to figure out, if this post was at all required or not. Thus, they stormed into the comment section to drop their opinions.

Surely, the post wasn’t NBA-related or basketball-related. And given the amount of discontent fans have towards James Jr., ESPN’s move to make things slightly light-hearted fell flat on the ground.

Fans bash ESPN for sharing Bronny James and his girlfriend’s special moment with the world

The audience has always noted that Bronny James is in the NBA, occasionally playing for the Lakers despite being the 55th draft pick, because of his father. Besides, with a 1.4 ppg, 0.4 rebounds, 0.5 assists, and 25 FG%, anything around Bronny simply frustrates the fans. Therefore, someone commented: “Nah reposting a G League player’s Valentine’s post is absolutely insane.”

One of ESPN’s 27.9 million followers commented: “Not gonna lie….mad weird post for a worldwide leading sports network.” The comment reflects the discomfort fans feel about ESPN’s post. As a leading sports network, covering a player’s personal Valentine’s Day moment—especially one as polarizing as Bronny James—feels out of place. With his NBA presence already under scrutiny, many see this as unnecessary and intrusive.

“ESPN?” This one-word comment says it all—confusion, disappointment, and frustration. Fans expect ESPN to cover sports, not personal relationships. By posting Bronny James and Parker Whitfield’s moment, the network blurred its purpose. Was this newsworthy? Many don’t think so. It feels more like celebrity gossip than sports journalism, leaving fans questioning ESPN’s priorities.

Another fan noted: “Just posting this for the reaction. I’m rooting for Bronny but we don’t need to know how Valentine’s went for a G-League player.” The comment accuses ESPN’s “true” motive—engagement over substance. While the user supports Bronny, they question why a G-League player’s personal life is news. It highlights a growing frustration with media outlets prioritizing clicks over meaningful coverage. Fans want game stats, not relationship updates.

Meanwhile, someone wants to take an even harsher turn. They commented: “Everyone go unfollow. It isn’t about sport anymore.” It’s more like a wake-up call for the media giants. Fans follow ESPN for sports, not off-court distractions. Seeing personal stories take center stage feels like a shift in priorities. It’s not just about one post—it’s about a pattern. If the network keeps this up, some fans are ready to walk away.

Thus, ESPN’s post sparked more backlash than engagement. Fans see it as a step away from sports and a dive into gossip. Bronny James’ career is already under heavy scrutiny, and this only adds fuel to the fire. Moreover, this move seems to have jeopardized the media mogul’s reputation among the fans. Now, they must make another move to make things right or lose followers.