- Four-year-old Reese Donatelli went viral after picking NFL game winners in her father’s 'Trust the Toddler' social media videos using miniature helmets.
- The clips, intended to teach colors and geography playfully, drew millions of views and thousands of comments across social platforms.
- During the NFL Wild Card round, missed picks prompted hostile online reactions that escalated into explicit death threats against the family, they said.
- Anthony Donatelli stressed Reese’s selections are childlike choices, not analytical predictions, and the controversy briefly drew celebrity attention including Cardi B.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA — Reese Donatelli, 4, went viral for picking NFL game winners on her father’s social media — and her family says they have since received death threats after angry gamblers blamed the child for their losses.
“Trust the Toddler” Clips Went Viral
Reese’s videos appeared as part of a series her father, Southern California radio personality Anthony Donatelli, calls “Trust the Toddler.” The clips show Reese choosing winners by grabbing miniature football helmets.
Donatelli has described the videos as a way to teach his daughter basic lessons like colors and geography while keeping it playful. The posts drew millions of views and thousands of comments.
Backlash Grew During the NFL Wild Card Round
The tone of the comment section shifted earlier this month during the NFL’s Wild Card round, as Reese began missing more picks and viewers started treating her selections like gambling advice.
As the misses spread online, the family said the comments became increasingly hostile and escalated into explicit threats.
Family Says Threats Followed the Viral Attention
Donatelli told the Los Angeles Times that Reese is not making analytical predictions and often picks teams for childlike reasons — such as favorite colors or foods — rather than anything related to performance.
The controversy also drew attention from celebrities. The report described a moment where Cardi B criticized Reese during an Instagram Live after a pick involving the New England Patriots and Houston Texans, then immediately walked the remark back. Reese’s pick in that game later turned out to be correct.
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