Last year, millions tuned in to “The Roast of Tom Brady” on Netflix, expecting a night of laughs, brutal jabs, and a fearless NFL legend. While Tom Brady himself famously “loved laughing at myself” and enjoyed the locker-room banter, a recent confession on the “Impaulsive” podcast reveals a profound regret: the roast was “really hard” on his children. This candid admission sheds new light on the unintended consequences of public spectacle, forcing the GOAT quarterback to confront the “bittersweet” reality of how his choices impact the people he cares about most. What exactly made this seemingly harmless event so difficult for his kids, and what lessons has Brady learned as a parent?
“The Roast of Tom Brady,” streamed on Netflix in 2024, was designed to be a comedic spectacle, putting the six-time Super Bowl champion and current Las Vegas Raiders minority owner in the hot seat for a barrage of jokes. While Brady, by his own admission, “loved when the jokes were about me” and found the entire production “so fun,” comparing it to the camaraderie of a locker room, some of the quips evidently crossed a line when it came to his personal life and family.
On a recent episode of the “Impaulsive” podcast, Brady opened up about the unforeseen emotional toll the roast took on his children. “I do understand that, for my kids, it was really hard,” he confessed, acknowledging a parental misstep: “There are some things as a parent you (expletive) up, and you don’t realize until after, like, ugh, you know?” This candid self-reflection highlights the complexities of parenthood, even for a figure as outwardly composed as Brady, who stressed, “We’re not perfect parents… There’s no perfect manual for it, and you gotta evaluate yourself as a parent, too, all the time.”
The intensity of their reaction was striking: Brady revealed his children were being “protective” of their parents and directly questioned the purpose of the event, asking, “‘what was the point of that?'” This isn’t the first time Brady has voiced these concerns. Back in 2024, on “The Pivot” podcast, he described the roast and its fallout as a “good lesson” for him. He explicitly stated, “I didn’t like the way that it affected my kids. It’s the hardest part about – the bittersweet aspect of – when you do something that you think is one way, and then all of a sudden you realize, I wouldn’t do that again because of the way that it affected, actually, the people that I care about the most in the world.”
This emotional impact on his children, including Benjamin (13), Vivian (10, shared with ex-wife Gisele Bündchen), and Jack (16, shared with ex Bridget Moynahan), suggests that the jokes, particularly those touching on his divorce or other sensitive family matters, landed differently for them than they did for the adult audience or Brady himself. Children, especially teenagers, often process public commentary about their parents and family dynamics in a deeply personal way, even if the intent is purely comedic. Their protective instincts indicate a sense of vulnerability and a desire to shield their parents from perceived attacks, even if those “attacks” are jokes.
For Brady, now transitioning into a role as a color analyst for Fox Sports in addition to his ownership stake in the Raiders, this experience serves as a powerful reminder of the pervasive nature of public life and the responsibility that comes with it, particularly when family is involved. His willingness to admit regret over a globally broadcast event offers a rare glimpse into the human side of a competitive icon.
Tom Brady’s candid reflections on how the Netflix roast affected his children offer a poignant lesson on the hidden costs of public life and the complexities of modern parenting. While the roast was undeniably a comedic spectacle for many, for Brady’s kids, it brought unexpected pain and confusion, prompting them to question the “point” of it all. This “bittersweet” experience has clearly left a lasting impression on Brady, highlighting the importance of protecting loved ones from the sometimes harsh glare of the public eye. His openness serves as a powerful reminder that even the greatest athletes are, first and foremost, parents navigating the same challenges as anyone else. What are your thoughts on Brady’s honesty, and the impact of celebrity roasts on families?