Nationwide — Patrick Mahomes is facing backlash after calling his old hairstyle “nappy” during an April 23 interview with KCTV 5. The comment came as he debuted a new, shorter haircut and explained he had waited so long to make the change due to superstition.“I kept winning the Super Bowl, which is a good thing, but I didn’t want to cut the hair while I was doing it.” Mahomes said, according to People. “I told everybody during the season that win or lose, if we win three in a row or if we lose, I’m getting a haircut like that’s enough.”
He added, “I can’t believe all you guys let me keep that nappy hair for so long. I look way better now with the short hair, so I’ll be keeping this going forward.”
The clip, shared on X, quickly drew criticism. Many called out his use of the word “nappy,” which has a long and painful history tied to slavery and is often used as a slur against Black hair. One user commented, “Him saying ‘nappy’ just doesn’t sit well with me.”
Mahomes, who is biracial, has previously dealt with public scrutiny over his family’s political ties. His wife, Brittany Mahomes, was criticized for liking an Instagram post from Donald Trump’s official account. She later defended herself in an Instagram Story, writing, “To be a hater as an adult, you have to have some deep-rooted issues you refuse to heal from childhood.”
The couple’s connection to the Trump family also made headlines after Mahomes’ mother, brother, and sister posed for a photo with the former president during the 2025 Super Bowl.