Michael Jordan is one of the few NBA stars who is not on social media, neither Instagram nor X. Jordan’s son once revealed the reason that he is not on social media is because he doesn’t enjoy being online. That is one reason why there are few opportunities for fans and media houses to interact with the NBA giant. The billionaire was mostly absent from public events after his retirement. However, once in a while, he would occasionally make public appearances. Unfortunately, these fewer appearances also often received negative responses and criticism because of one reason. But why would he keep his distance from his adoring fanbase?
David Halberstam, in his New York Times bestseller, ‘Playing for Keeps: Michael Jordan and the World He Made,’ shared the entire story.
Michael Jordan was criticized for sending out photocopied autographs
Jordan faced criticism for his lack of engagement with the public post-retirement. While he did make appearances at various events, the nature of these interactions raised eyebrows. While he was happy to get back in control of his life, some criticized him for not engaging with fans. However, one incident that garnered negative attention involved a visit to a school in Washington, D.C. The brief encounter left teachers and students disappointed, as Jordan had limited time for meaningful interactions. He even resorted to having his autograph photocopied for the students, further fueling the criticism about his seemingly disconnected approach.
“There were some appearances at inner-city schools; one in Washington, D.C., drew somewhat negative notices, a hit-and-run visit by Jordan in which he barely had time to meet with the school’s teachers, let alone the students, and at which he had his autograph Xeroxed for the students,” explained Halberstam.
Despite his attempts to maintain a private life, Jordan was under scrutiny. However, he continued to feature in some of the biggest brands and magazines.
Michael Jordan was the face of many commercials
The Chicago Bulls legend was the face of several commercials, much to fans’ delight. In one of them, he was featured alongside animated characters, while in another, promoting Gatorade, he played the charismatic star preparing for a showdown with soccer star Mia Hamm. Despite his minimal public presence, he has always garnered immense love and praise from millions of fans. These fans have always held a deep admiration for the impressive legacy he built, and that admiration has remained largely unchanged over the years.