Tom Brady voices support for Naomi Osaka amid tennis star’s mental health break
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady voiced support for Naomi Osaka in an episode of HBO’s “The Shop,” saying he has “compassion and empathy” for the Japanese tennis star amid her mental health break.
Brady explained that he “went through a lot of things” in his late teens and early 20s that he “didn’t know how to deal with.”
(Warning: Video contains inappropriate language.)
Brady added that he understands the difficulty of handling press conferences. However, he said he has never avoided the media because it’s his job as an employee of the NFL to answer questions.
Osaka announced in May that she would not participate in mandatory press conferences at Roland Garros, citing mental health concerns. The French Open later fined her $15,000 for not meeting her media requirements after a first-round win over Patricia Maria Tig, and she eventually withdrew from the tournament.
Osaka also recently announced she would not participate in the Wimbledon Championships but is planning to return for this summer’s Tokyo Olympics.
