Listen to the article
The viral video showing NFL star Micah Parsons dancing during a Penn State event has continued to resurface on social media, despite the defensive end’s attempts to distance himself from the footage.
Parsons, who has established himself as one of the NFL’s premier defensive players, has been unable to escape a college moment that has followed him throughout his professional career. The clip, which shows Parsons dancing energetically and even twerking during a 2018 Penn State THON pep rally, regularly circulates online, particularly on platforms like X (formerly Twitter).
The star defender has accumulated impressive accolades since entering the league in 2021, becoming the only player since 1982 to record 12 or more sacks in each of his first five professional seasons. His multiple Pro Bowl selections and First-team All-Pro honors have solidified his reputation as one of football’s elite talents, earning him devoted fans in both Dallas and Green Bay.
Despite these professional accomplishments, the dancing video has remained a persistent source of mild embarrassment for Parsons.
The footage originated during his freshman year at Penn State, where participation in the THON pep rally represents a long-standing tradition for first-year football players. As part of this annual rite of passage, Parsons and several teammates performed choreographed routines to popular songs, including numbers by the Backstreet Boys and Nicki Minaj.
During the Nicki Minaj portion, Parsons can be seen dancing enthusiastically alongside teammate Yetur Gross-Matos, who was dressed to resemble the rapper. The performance included Parsons twerking on stage, a moment that has particularly resonated with social media users who continue to circulate the clip.
News aggregators and popular social media accounts, such as “Fear Buck” on X, have made the video a recurring feature in their content, ensuring the footage remains in the public consciousness years after the event.
When confronted about the video during a Twitch stream last year, Parsons vehemently denied its authenticity, claiming it was created using artificial intelligence. However, this explanation contradicts available evidence. The original YouTube footage dates back to 2018, well before the widespread availability of sophisticated AI video generation tools. Furthermore, contemporary news reports from Penn State student media specifically mentioned Parsons’ participation in the event.
“That’s a real video from 2018 of Micah Parsons dancing at Penn State’s THON pep rally. It’s authentic footage from his freshman year, not AI-generated,” noted social media fact-checkers, pointing to multiple sources confirming the video’s authenticity.
The persistence of this video highlights the challenges professional athletes face in the digital age, where collegiate moments can follow them throughout their careers. While many athletes participate in similar college traditions without lasting scrutiny, the combination of Parsons’ high profile and the particularly memorable nature of his dance moves has kept this clip in circulation.
For Parsons, the contrast between his fearsome on-field persona and the uninhibited dancing freshman seen in the video creates a juxtaposition that continues to fascinate fans and social media users alike. As his professional achievements continue to accumulate, this college moment remains an unexpected footnote in the story of one of football’s most dominant defensive players.
Fact Checker
Verify the accuracy of this article using The Disinformation Commission analysis and real-time sources.
15 Comments
It’s understandable why Parsons would want to distance himself from the dance video, but at the end of the day, it’s just a lighthearted college moment. His NFL achievements are the real story here.
It’s amazing how a silly dance video can continue to haunt a player, even after they’ve established themselves as an elite talent in the pros. Parsons seems to have handled it well, though.
It’s amusing how something like a college dance video can take on a life of its own and dog a player’s professional career. Parsons seems to have moved past it though, and his stats and accolades speak for themselves.
Exactly. The video is just a lighthearted college moment. Parsons has clearly left that behind and focused on becoming a star in the NFL.
The fact-checking around whether this video was AI-generated is an interesting angle, but ultimately it’s just a college moment that Parsons has long moved past. His NFL career speaks for itself.
Parsons has proven himself as one of the NFL’s elite defensive players. The dance video is a trivial distraction compared to his impressive stats and accolades. Fans should appreciate his talent, not dwell on college antics.
Parsons seems to have a good sense of humor about the whole dance video situation. It’s a minor blip compared to his impressive NFL career and accomplishments. Fans should appreciate his talent, not dwell on college antics.
I’m curious to know more about the technical analysis around whether this video was AI-generated. Regardless, Parsons has moved on to bigger and better things in the NFL.
Good point. The video’s authenticity is an interesting question, but Parsons’ NFL success is the real story here. He’s clearly put that college moment behind him.
While the Parsons dance video may be entertaining, it’s clear his focus has been on dominating on the field. His NFL achievements are what truly matter and cement his reputation as one of the league’s top defensive players.
Interesting discussion around this Micah Parsons video. While it may be an embarrassing moment, his impressive NFL career speaks for itself. Fans should focus on his talent and accomplishments rather than trivial college antics.
Agreed. Parsons has proven himself as an elite defensive player in the NFL. A college dance video is a minor distraction compared to his on-field dominance.
Ah, the perils of social media and going viral for the wrong reasons. But Parsons has clearly used that as motivation to excel in the NFL. You can’t knock his on-field performance and achievements.
Well said. Parsons has proven his worth as an NFL player. The dance video is just a silly distraction that doesn’t diminish his accomplishments.
While the video may be a source of mild embarrassment for Parsons, it’s clear he’s used it as motivation to excel in the NFL. His on-field dominance is what truly matters and what fans should focus on.