Tom Brady’s runway debut for Gucci turned into one of the more talked-about fashion moments of the week, and not because his walk was smooth. The former NFL quarterback stepped onto Gucci’s Cruise 2027 runway in New York on Saturday, May 16, dressed head to toe in black leather, then quickly became the subject of social media jokes that compared his walk to RoboCop and the Tin Man.
By Tuesday, May 19, the reaction had moved beyond the clips themselves and into the question of how Gisele Bündchen, Brady’s ex-wife, was taking it. An insider told Naughty But Nice that Bündchen watched the videos and thought it was fun to watch, while another source said her response was supportive rather than judgmental. The insider added that she knows Brady has confidence and charisma, but runway modeling is a real craft that takes years to master.
The moment landed because it was not a private experiment. Brady’s walk came during a celebrity-filled New York event that also drew Kim Kardashian, Mariah Carey, Lindsay Lohan and Cindy Crawford, putting him in a room full of people who know exactly how much image matters. For Brady, who has spent most of his public life in stadiums rather than fashion shows, the appearance was a deliberate move into a different kind of spotlight.
Bündchen’s reaction also carried extra weight because of the history between the two. Brady and Bündchen divorced in October 2022 after 13 years of marriage, and they share two children, Benjamin and Vivian. Brady also has a son, Jack, with actress Bridget Moynahan. Since the split, Bündchen has focused on building a quieter life, while Brady has remained a highly visible figure whose personal life continues to draw attention.
That visibility has only grown in recent months. Brady has been linked to influencer Alix Earle and Yael Cohen since splitting from Bündchen, which has kept him in the tabloid lane even as he moves into post-football ventures. Fashion may be the newest of those, but the footage showed the gap between celebrity and skill can be unforgiving. One insider put it plainly: “Good for him for trying.” Another said Brady has the look for fashion, but if he wants modeling to become part of his next chapter, he will need more runway practice.
For now, the answer to the question around Bündchen’s reaction is simple: she was not mocking him, and she was not bristling at the spectacle. She seemed to see it for what it was — a famous ex-husband trying something new, and doing it in front of cameras that would make sure everyone else saw it too.
