Alyssa Milano found herself targeted by people seemingly unhappy that she was in attendance for this year’s Super Bowl less than a month after asking people for money as part of a fundraiser for her son’s baseball team.
Actress Milano was pictured alongside her 12-year-old son at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas as the Kansas City Chiefs emerged victorious against the San Francisco 49ers.
Between Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce‘s romance, Usher’s half-time show, and the deluge of commercials and trailers on offer, there was much and more to digest. Milano’s presence, however, did not fly under the radar.
So what’s wrong with a mother and her son venturing out for the biggest day in the NFL calendar, you ask? Well, nothing, of course, except netizens are reportedly up in arms over the fact that the 51-year-old was able to fork out for at least two tickets just days after asking fans for money.
In late January, Milano faced heavy criticism after she shared a GoFundMe page and asked her followers to consider donating to help her son’s baseball team travel to Cooperstown, New York.
The backlash was swift, and, given her net worth, the comments weren’t kind.
NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 03: Actress Alyssa Milano tapes an interview at “Good Morning America” at the ABC Times Square Studios on June 3, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Ray Tamarra/Getty Images)
“Any amount would be so greatly appreciated. You can read more about the team and make a donation,” she wrote on X.
The fundraiser, which sought $10,000, encouraged people to donate to the “diverse, hardworking and really good” 12U team.
“Alyssa is worth a reported $10 million. And look, having traveled to 3 tournaments last summer in 3 different cities in 3 different states, I get it. It’s beyond expensive. But to ask for donations here given her worth and the fact her husband is a CAA agent is really something,” one user wrote at the time.
“Alyssa Milano needs our help, guys!!! This is serious!! Let’s dig deep,” another user quipped on X.
“I remember when raising money for an extracurricular trip actually meant EARNING money for the trip. You know, car washes, bake sales, recycling drives. Kids actually working for it,” someone else said.
Needless to say, internet users had plenty to get off their chests where Milano’s Super Bowl showing was concerned.
“How can he get to the game and you request money to take his team to Cooperstown? How out of touch are you,” one person on Instagram asked.
Another asked: “Is this why you created the Go Fund Me? To get you and your kid to the Super Bowl?”
“Damn. Probably could have spent that money one [sic] your son’s baseball team, huh?” another said. “But what do I know.”
Credit / Getty Images
For her part, Milano released a strongly-worded statement after critics began targeting her son’s Instagram page.
“Every parent raises money for their child’s sports teams and many of them do so through GoFundMe. I am no different,” the Charmed star explained.
“As much as I’d love to pay for the entire team and their families for travel, transportation, hotel, food and beverage, uniforms, trading pins, and all the things teams do for this kind of trip—I can not afford to do so. Maybe someday. Also, if I did pay for everyone—my trolls would find something else to be hurtful about.
“Regardless of how you feel about me, going on to my hardworking 12 year old son’s Instagram page and leaving these kinds of messages is so horrid. Leave the kids alone,” the actress added. “Let them play baseball. If you are against donating—don’t donate. If you’d like to donate to help the team’s families — we appreciate it—the link is in his bio.”
What do you think about Alyssa Milano and the fundraiser for her son’s baseball team? Let us know in the comments.