'I wish I had a better reaction': Matthew Stafford admits regret over Super Bowl rally incident

One week after going viral for his flippant reaction to a photographer fracturing her spine at the Los Angeles Rams’ Super Bowl rally, quarterback Matthew Stafford now says he regrets his response, or lack thereof.

‘Yeah, I mean, that obviously happened really quickly and suddenly and unexpectedly, and wish I had a better reaction in the moment,’ Stafford told his wife, Kelly, on her podcast, ‘The Morning After.’

NFL photographer Kelly Smiley was seen in a viral video last week walking backwards and falling off the six-foot stage outside the LA Memorial Coliseum, where the post-parade rally was held. Smiley was taking a photo of couple on Kelly’s cell phone in the moment before the accident.

Although she fell off screen, a group of concerned onlookers that included Kelly were seen rushing to Smiley’s attention.

Stafford, himself, was not one of them.

Apparently all out of heroics after leading the Rams on a game-winning 79-yard drive against the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI, Stafford appeared to say ‘oh my God’ and did an immediate about-face as Smiley plummeted to the ground.

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One week after going viral for his flippant reaction to a photographer fracturing her spine at the Los Angeles Rams' Super Bowl rally, quarterback Matthew Stafford (left) now says he regrets his response, or lack thereof. 'Yeah, I mean, that obviously happened really quickly and suddenly and unexpectedly, and wish I had a better reaction in the moment,' Stafford told his wife, Kelly (right), on her podcast, 'The Morning After'

One week after going viral for his flippant reaction to a photographer fracturing her spine at the Los Angeles Rams’ Super Bowl rally, quarterback Matthew Stafford (left) now says he regrets his response, or lack thereof. ‘Yeah, I mean, that obviously happened really quickly and suddenly and unexpectedly, and wish I had a better reaction in the moment,’ Stafford told his wife, Kelly (right), on her podcast, ‘The Morning After’

Kelly Smiley, who was shooting the event, was seen on video accidentally walking backwards off the stage outside the LA Memorial Coliseum, where the post-parade rally was held. Quarterback Matthew Stafford is seen in black on the left-hand side of the frame

Kelly Smiley, who was shooting the event, was seen on video accidentally walking backwards off the stage outside the LA Memorial Coliseum, where the post-parade rally was held. Quarterback Matthew Stafford is seen in black on the left-hand side of the frame 

Although she fell off screen, a group of concerned onlookers including Stafford's wife, Kelly (right, in blue), were seen rushing to Smiley's attention

Although she fell off screen, a group of concerned onlookers including Stafford’s wife, Kelly (right, in blue), were seen rushing to Smiley’s attention

Later, on Instagram, Smiley showed the brace she was given at the hospital, writing that she was 'feeling OK' but was 'staying the night in the trama (sic) center'

Later, on Instagram, Smiley showed the brace she was given at the hospital, writing that she was ‘feeling OK’ but was ‘staying the night in the trama (sic) center’

Smiley later revealed on social media that she suffered a fractured spine, sparking outrage over Stafford’s apparent disinterest in her well being.

But speaking with her husband on her podcast, Kelly Stafford claimed the public perception of the incident was distorted.

‘We can’t not talk about what happened,’ she told her husband. ‘There was a photographer, who stepped off the back of the stage, had asked if we wanted a picture, and I was like, ‘Yes,” because looking back at my camera roll, I have literally zero of Matthew and I.’

‘When she offered, she stepped back and fell,’ Kelly Stafford continued. ‘It was an awful, awful moment. Matthew looked at me and said, ‘Check her please,’ and turned around.’

Initially, Smiley - who says on her website that she works as a photo editor for the NFL, NBA and NHL - said she only suffered some broken equipment

Initially, Smiley – who says on her website that she works as a photo editor for the NFL, NBA and NHL – said she only suffered some broken equipment

Stafford tweeted a follow-up after her ER visit saying: 'Unfortunately I fractured my spine'

Stafford tweeted a follow-up after her ER visit saying: ‘Unfortunately I fractured my spine’

Kelly Smiley (pictured) a photographer shooting the Rams' Super Bowl celebration in Los Angeles on Wednesday, says she suffered a fractured spine falling from the team's stage in front of quarterback Matthew Stafford, who walked away rather than offering her any help

Kelly Smiley (left, right) a photographer shooting the Rams’ Super Bowl celebration in Los Angeles on Wednesday, says she suffered a fractured spine falling from the team’s stage in front of quarterback Matthew Stafford, who walked away rather than offering her any help. Later, on Instagram, Smiley showed the brace she was given at the hospital, writing that she was ‘feeling OK’ but was ‘staying the night in the trama (sic) center’

Kelly Stafford said she went over to Smiley and ‘could see that she was OK.’

Later, Kelly Stafford said, the couple ‘followed up with her’ following the parade.

‘Matthew actually looked at me and said, ”Hey, will you contact the Rams, ask how she’s doing?”’

According to Kelly Stafford, the Rams told the couple ‘we think she’s going to be OK,’ and they agreed to send her flowers.

But Smiley’s diagnosis was far from OK.

‘Next day we wake up, not OK,’ Kelly Stafford continued.

'What a gentleman. Fathers do better in teaching your sons. Men be better mentors. #BeKindAlways #MatthewStafford she fractured her spine while doing her job. Hope any water you drink is SALTY,' Petra Malusclava tweeted.

‘What a gentleman. Fathers do better in teaching your sons. Men be better mentors. #BeKindAlways #MatthewStafford she fractured her spine while doing her job. Hope any water you drink is SALTY,’ Petra Malusclava tweeted.

Initially, Smiley – who says on her website that she works as a photo editor for the NFL, NBA and NHL – said she only suffered some broken equipment. Later, on Instagram, Smiley showed off the back brace she was given at the hospital, writing that she was ‘feeling OK’ but was ‘staying the night in the trama (sic) center.’

‘Unfortunately I fractured my spine,’ she wrote in the post.

Kelly said her husband reached out to Smiley by text, but by that point, his immediate retreat in response to the fall had gone viral.

Kelly Stafford went on to say that the quarterback texted Smiley, but his reaction had already gone viral at that point.

‘I didn’t apologize to her for that, but glad that all in all she’s doing alright,’ he said Tuesday. ‘It’s one of those things that you try and train your reactions to be a little bit better next time.’

Another tweeted: 'Sincerely hope you get better from that unfortunate fall. Matthew Stafford could had (sic) shown more empathy & ask if you were okay or called security for medical attention but instead sipped his water bottle and walked away like nothing happened'

Another tweeted: ‘Sincerely hope you get better from that unfortunate fall. Matthew Stafford could had (sic) shown more empathy & ask if you were okay or called security for medical attention but instead sipped his water bottle and walked away like nothing happened’

User @Waffles1975 pointed out that the incident 'shows all you need to know about Matthew Stafford's character right there'

User @Waffles1975 pointed out that the incident ‘shows all you need to know about Matthew Stafford’s character right there’

Smiley, who is bound to be saddled with medical bills after fracturing her spine, also had the support of another user, Christopher Carley who said: 'I hope Matthew Stafford can find some spare change in his $60.5 million contract he's getting paid to the young lady's GoFundMe.'

Smiley, who is bound to be saddled with medical bills after fracturing her spine, also had the support of another user, Christopher Carley who said: ‘I hope Matthew Stafford can find some spare change in his $60.5 million contract he’s getting paid to the young lady’s GoFundMe.’

'Trying to figure out how a clearly intoxicated Matthew Stafford was going to help this lady', wrote @PostinMonkey

‘Trying to figure out how a clearly intoxicated Matthew Stafford was going to help this lady’, wrote @PostinMonkey

The Rams announced last week that the team will cover the medical costs for Smiley and help her replace her broken cameras.

Matthew was roundly criticized on social media with many slamming him for his classless behavior.

‘What a gentleman. Fathers do better in teaching your sons. Men be better mentors. #BeKindAlways #MatthewStafford she fractured her spine while doing her job. Hope any water you drink is SALTY,’ Petra Malusclava tweeted.

Another tweeted at Smiley: ‘Sincerely hope you get better from that unfortunate fall. Matthew Stafford could had (sic) shown more empathy & ask if you were okay or called security for medical attention but instead sipped his water bottle and walked away like nothing happened #Classless.’

User @Waffles1975 pointed out that the incident ‘shows all you need to know about Matthew Stafford’s character right there’.

Smiley also had the support of another user, Christopher Carley, who tweeted: ‘I hope Matthew Stafford can find some spare change in his $60.5 million contract he’s getting paid to the young lady’s GoFundMe.’

Some though, defended him and said he couldn’t have helped because he was drunk.

‘Trying to figure out how a clearly intoxicated Matthew Stafford was going to help this lady,’ wrote another twitter user.

Matthew Stafford raises a bottle to toast Rams fans in attendance at Wednesday's rally in LA

Matthew Stafford raises a bottle to toast Rams fans in attendance at Wednesday’s rally in LA

source: dailymail.co.uk