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NFL Super Bowl Glory Overshadowed by Bad Reviews: How Eagles Star’s Mom Fights Back
Del Johnson turned her attention from the Super Bowl to her new restaurant as she watched her son, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, celebrate on the field. The Philadelphia Eagles safety had just led his team to a resounding victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, and while the Eagles rejoiced in Cocoa Village, Florida, Johnson was preparing to celebrate the opening of her second restaurant, Kings Grill, in nearby Rockledge.
However, the jubilation took a sudden downturn when Kings Grill was hit with a flurry of negative reviews on Yelp shortly after Gardner-Johnson made headlines for his remarks aimed at Chiefs player Travis Kelce.
In a now-infamous Instagram post, Gardner-Johnson sarcastically commented, “Should’ve stayed with that thick s— ” referencing Kelce’s past relationship with Kayla Nicole. This social media jab struck a nerve, leading to repercussions for his mother’s restaurant.
The Swifties Strike
Amid the escalating tensions, fans known as Swifties—devoted followers of pop superstar Taylor Swift—seemed behind the influx of critical reviews targeting Kings Grill. Swift maintained a high profile at Chiefs games, adding further fuel to the animosity in this sports rivalry.
Speaking to TMZ Sports, Delatron Johnson shared, “My friends were sending me screenshots of the reviews. They immediately recognized the familiar pattern and remarked, ‘Oh my god, the Swifties have attacked.'” Johnson’s response combined disbelief and amusement, noting the playful acknowledgment of the situation.
Yelp Responds to the Situation
As the negative reviews mounted, Yelp took action by placing an “unusual activity alert” on Kings Grill’s page, halting new review submissions while they investigated the validity of the feedback. The review site explained, “This business recently received increased public attention, which often leads users to post reviews based on the news rather than firsthand experiences.”
Yelp representatives clarified, “To preserve the integrity of our platform, we limit new submissions during such occurrences. Our moderators will clear any reviews that do not reflect genuine experiences once the situation stabilizes.”
This decision came after significant discussions among the community about the fairness and relevance of reviews that stem from off-field drama rather than actual dining experiences.
Support from Eagles Fans and Beyond
In a notable twist, the outpouring of negative feedback led to a chorus of positive reviews from Eagles fans eager to support Johnson’s establishment. Many took to Yelp to counterbalance the influx of negativity.
