CBS reporter Tracy Wolfson was criticized by television viewers for hugging Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen before his interview about Sunday night's win over the Baltimore Ravens.
Wolfson spoke with the victorious quarterback on the Highmark field just moments after his team secured their spot in this Sunday's AFC Championship game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
But fans weren't impressed that Wolfson hugged Allen before they started talking about the game.
“So Josh Allen hugged Tracy Wolfson 30 seconds before the post-match interview. Not a great look for CBS,” leading hockey writer Ken Campbell said of X as he watched from home.
Another viewer said: 'Tracy Wolfson goes up to Josh Allen and gives him a hug? What is that about? Shouldn't reporters be neutral?'
Another fan posted: 'Is it a bad look for Tracy Wolfson to hug Allen before the interview? I think so.'
CBS reporter Tracy Wolfson hugged Josh Allen before interview after Bills beat Ravens
But Wolfson also had people defending her on X. Jimmy Traina, a writer for Sports Illustrated, defended her from critics.
“There's no problem with this,” he said. “Tracy Wolfson has been interviewing and meeting with Josh Allen for seven to eight years.
'Players and broadcasters are friends. Her giving Allen a hug after the game has no bearing on the way she does her job as a sideline reporter.”
Commenting on his post, Traina added, “People are crazy. If the Ravens had won, she would have embraced Lamar. She spent hours and hours and hours with these people.”
During his brief conversation with Wolfson, Allen criticized his Bills team as he turned his attention to facing the Chiefs.
“What about that Buffalo Bills defense? All year this team heard we had no talent,” Allen told Wolfson.
'We're too small, we can't stop the flight. We're not good enough to compete. We just put our heads down and worked hard.
“I'm so proud of our defense,” he continued. “I'm so proud of our offensive and special teams. What a complete victory.
Others defended Wolfson, saying she needs to get to know the players as part of her job
“Obviously we would have liked to have scored a little more on the offensive side of the ball so we didn't have to carry it into the fourth quarter like that. But that is a very good team, also for them.'
The game against the Chiefs is this Sunday night at 6:30 PM Eastern Time.
Whoever wins will play in the Super Bowl in New Orleans on February 9 against the Philadelphia Eagles or Washington Commanders.
