VT. BREAKING: Louis Vuitton employees mocked a casually dressed man and denied him entry — 48 hours later, they were left speechless when they learned it was Steelers star Jerome Bettis.
BREAKING: Louis Vuitton employees mocked a casually dressed man and refused to let him in — 48 hours later, they were dumbfounded to learn it was Steelers legend Jerome Bettis.
He was just trying to buy a gift for his mom. Now the NFL is fighting back. Never judge a man by his clothes…
In a story that’s gone viral,
Pittsburgh Steelers legend Jerome Bettis has become the face of a heartbreaking reminder: status doesn’t protect you from prejudice — and dignity doesn’t need a logo.
Witnesses say Jerome Bettis walked into the Louis Vuitton store at Chicago’s Oakbrook Center wearing sweatpants, a hoodie, and sneakers. His goal? A special birthday gift for his mom. But before he could look around, he was stopped at the door by employees who allegedly made snide remarks about whether he “belonged” there.
Despite being one of the most respected quarterbacks in the NFL, Jerome Bettis said nothing. He didn’t get angry. He didn’t mention names. He didn’t brag. He simply turned and walked away.
Two days later, a fan noticed he had shared the incident online. It went viral.
The post went viral across the NFL world. Players, fans, and media denounced Louis Vuitton’s blatant discrimination, and the brand was forced to issue a public apology, calling it “an unfortunate mistake” and promising an internal review.
But many felt the apology was too late—and too hollow.
Jerome Bettis’ silence only added to the power of the moment. While the world was outraged, he remained silent, calm, and dignified.
A Steelers teammate posted:
“That’s Jerome Bettis. He stopped the receivers on the field — and put the hate out with grace.”
The story reignited a national conversation about how Black athletes — and Black men in general — are treated in luxury spaces. The hashtag
#NeverJudgeByClothes has since flooded timelines.
The outpouring of support continues — from art and memes to thousands of messages of solidarity. One quote that went viral on social media reads:
“Jerome Bettis doesn’t need to wear Louis Vuitton to prove his worth. He shows his individuality — and that’s always in style.”
John Carlson Wants to Sign Capitals Extension Under One Condition, Claims Pierre LeBrun
The Washington Capitals opened camp this fall with a huge question hanging over their blue line.
Veteran defenseman John Carlson is skating into the final year of his contract, an eight-year, $64 million deal signed in 2018. Extension talks have yet to begin.
According to Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic, Carlson has no desire to leave Washington but is focused on securing a “fair deal.”
LeBrun noted that neither side has set a timeline for negotiations, with the expectation that discussions will come once the season is underway and the likeliest outcome being both sides reaching an agreement if they can find common ground.
“(Carlson) never wanted to leave, and he doesn’t want to leave after this season, either, all things being equal. But there also haven’t been any real contract talks yet,” LeBrun wrote. “He turns 36 in January and would rather stay in Washington, but he remains a very effective player.
“I don’t think this is a situation where he’s willing to just take absolutely anything in order to stay. He’s looking for a fair deal.”
Carlson, 35, remains a central piece of the Capitals’ core. He posted five goals and 46 assists for 51 points in 79 regular-season games last season, delivered three more points in 10 postseason outings, and led all Washington defensemen in scoring.
The defenseman, a Capitals alternate captain for six seasons, enters 2025-26 as the franchise leader in games played (1,088), goals (156), assists (569) and points (725) by a blueliner.
Per Russian Machine Never Breaks’ Chris Cerullo, Carlson told reporters Thursday that he is not dwelling on his future.
“I think anybody would probably love security. I think that’s a normal thought to have, but I’m not thinking about it now,” Carlson said. “I’ve always been pretty good at focusing on what I can control.”
Capitals general manager Chris Patrick said in May that while the team values Carlson’s contributions, management is also working to transition toward a younger roster.
“(Carlson) is obviously a huge part of our team and had a great season, and all expectations are he’s going to have another great season next year,” Patrick said. “It probably makes sense just to see how things play out a little bit.
“We’re a mature team and transitioning to a younger team, and we just want to make sure that we’re putting guys in the right position to have success and that expectations line up. So, nothing imminent this summer.”
The Capitals will get their season going with a matchup against the Boston Bruins on Oct. 8.
