NFL star Caleb Williams sported blue-painted nails, and bigots aren’t happy about it.
NFL star Caleb Williams sported blue-painted nails, and bigots aren’t happy about it. (Instagram/ayeeecaleb)
NFL star Caleb Williams has faced anti-gay backlash from conservatives online after painting his finger nails blue.
Chicago Bears quarterback Williams took to Instagram on Monday (14 July) to share a series of photos from a wedding, captioned “Young n in control.”
He can be seen in the first photo with blue nails.
While comments on Instagram were somewhat supportive, people on X/Twitter called him gay, with one writing: “I’m sorry but Caleb Williams has to like men…”
I’m sorry but Caleb Williams has to like men… pic.twitter.com/xxJ5zjD0M9
— ŠKE🏌🏽♂️ (@Game7Ske) July 14, 2025
Another said: “Guys painting their nails is a social trend… and it’s gay.” Someone else proclaimed: “Ummm, this is so gross.”
What I love about Caleb Williams is he’s unapologetically him. Painting nails don’t bother me. Nor do I associate it with homosexuality/masculinity.
I see a guy who doesn’t want to fit into the box society created and I love that. pic.twitter.com/1u37xfMeiB
— Ross Read (@RossRead) July 13, 2025
Williams has never spoken about his sexuality but he has been dating his former high school sweetheart, Alina Thyregod, who at one time worked for people magazine, since November 2023. Before that he dated journalism student Valery Orellana.
He has previously said he paints his nails to honour his mother.
”It started, I would say, three years ago,” he said in an interview in 2023, the year before he was drafted by the Bears. “It was my last year of high school. My mom does nails, let’s just start it off there. She’s done it my whole life. Nobody else does it. I just like to do new things.”
Caleb Williams seen wearing a yellow hoodie and holding a pink phone case at a basketball game
Caleb Williams was spotted at a basketball game with pink lipstick and a pink phone. (Credit: X/BarstoolSports)
It isn’t the first time he has rocked painted nails. In May 2024, he was caught on camera, wearing pink lipstick, with pink nails, a pink phone and a pink wallet. Angry sports fans took to X to condemn his “girly” appearance.
The backslash prompted NFL Network host Kyle Brandt to bemoan “caveman Twitter” users for their “diatribe”.
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