Individuals who admire Puka Nacua and uphold ethical principles might find the following content difficult to digest. Nevertheless, it is crucial to review, as his engagement in antisemitism justifies critique and he should not be shielded from it.
During a live stream hosted by Adin Ross, Nacua appeared and put forth a speculative claim concerning sports referees, and also ridiculed the Kansas City Chiefs for their playoff elimination—details considered inconsequential. The critical issue, though, is Puka’s disgraceful assurance to Ross that his subsequent touchdown celebration would involve a “Covetous Jew” routine. Ross instructed Nacua in this act, which incorporates spinning a dreidel, flexing muscles, and rubbing hands together in a manner that imitates an established antisemitic stereotype.
Adin Ross is widely recognized for tolerating antisemitic content during his broadcasts, frequently disguising it as jest. Moreover, he has a documented history of inviting guests who disseminate antisemitic perspectives, most notably the white supremacist and Holocaust denier Nick Fuentes, who has made multiple appearances alongside Ross. Ross faced a permanent ban from the Twitch streaming platform in 2023 due to his failure to employ chat moderators, while simultaneously showcasing these unmoderated messages during his live sessions.
“Throughout that timeframe, the online personality neglected to supervise the displayed chat, which contained numerous prejudiced and anti-Jewish remarks. He neither denounced nor discontinued showing his chat, which goes against Twitch’s established community rules.”
The specifics of Adin Ross’s convictions, if any, are not clearly known. This prominent figure has consistently kept his personal religious affiliation indistinct, a tactic employed to maintain plausible deniability against scrutiny. Ross has previously stated he is Jewish, Catholic, Muslim, and without religious belief—identities he has invoked as a defense during various controversies. In the current situation, this will likely be leveraged to assert that Ross’s propagation of the most detestable and damaging stereotypes concerning Jewish people is permissible because he professes to be Jewish. He can then, in short order, shift his declaration, claiming a different religious identity, and thereby perpetuate the ongoing pattern.
At this moment, no official communication has been released by the NFL, the Rams organization, or Nacua. It is conceivable he could face a penalty for openly criticizing game referees, a conduct the league has perpetually forbidden. However, it remains uncertain whether any consequences will arise from demonstrating antisemitic behavior during the livestream, or if such actions might be repeated on the football field.
In the most favorable interpretation, Nacua was unaware of Ross’s character and performed a remarkably ill-advised act during a live broadcast. At its most severe, he is an active collaborator in perpetuating harmful stereotypes against the Jewish population, which is particularly concerning as it transpired less than a week after a tragic event at Bondi Beach in Australia during a Hanukkah observance claimed 15 lives. In either scenario, there is no defensible justification. Both the Rams and the NFL are obligated to investigate this occurrence and seek explanations for why a leading figure in football participated in this stream.
