Cardi B
iamcardib/Instagram

A four-year-old girl in Southern California has received death threats and hostile online messages after going viral for making playful NFL game predictions, a surge in hostility fuelled by a controversial comment from rapper Cardi B on Instagram Live.

Viral Phenomenon Turned Hostile

Reese Donatelli of Riverside, California, first drew public attention alongside her father, Anthony Donatelli, by selecting NFL game winners using miniature helmets on her father's Instagram account nearly four years ago. The series, now branded as 'Trust the Toddler', started as a light-hearted way for Reese to learn about colours, geography and football with her father.

Over time, Reese became a beloved social media personality, known for proudly grabbing the mini helmet of the team she believed would win each week. However, during the first weekend of the NFL playoffs this January, several of her predictions missed the mark.

Some followers began attributing supposed 'curses' to her picks and reacted with extreme hostility. Her father said strangers began sending threatening messages, including demands for money from people claiming financial losses due to Reese's wrong predictions, and even direct death threats to their family.

Cardi B's Comment Amplifies Backlash

The situation intensified when rapper Cardi B, whose partner Stefon Diggs plays for the New England Patriots, commented on Reese's prediction during an Instagram Live broadcast. During the livestream, Cardi B said: 'Little white girl said we're going to win. Fk that b*h!' before quickly apologising and adding that she 'didn't mean to say that'.The remark, while retracted on-air, was seized upon by some social media users and added fuel to already heightened tensions surrounding the viral posts.

Cardi B
instagram/iamcardib

Ironically, Reese's prediction that the New England Patriots would beat the Houston Texans and advance to the AFC Championship proved accurate, with New England winning 28-16. Reese's father characterised Cardi B's comment as 'unfortunate' but said he does not wish to escalate the situation or enter into conflict with the artist.

Escalation and Online Harassment

Online harassment peaked as some followers turned hostile, using direct messages and public comments to express anger at Reese, with some apparently linking her predictions to perceived gambling losses. 'It's nuts,' Donatelli told the Los Angeles Times, emphasising the absurdity of blaming a preschooler for sports outcomes. Donatelli reported that some of the threats included demands for compensation, with individuals claiming they had lost significant sums because they used Reese's picks for betting.

Social Media Platforms
Pexels

The backlash demonstrates how easily internet fame can escalate into harassment, particularly when a public figure involves a child in content that is widely shared. Situations like this highlight the risks children face when they become viral sensations, especially around emotionally charged topics such as sports betting and gambling. Threats against minors are illegal and taken seriously by law enforcement in the United States, with statutes prohibiting communication of threats and harassment that cause fear for safety or harm.

Anthony Donatelli said that despite the hate, he plans to continue making videos with Reese, emphasising the bonding experience it provides. Public reaction to the story, as reflected in online commentary and social media discourse, has been mixed. Some commentators decry the hostility and threats directed at a four‑year‑old, while others critique the decision to involve a child in viral content that invites public scrutiny.

A four-year-old's playful NFL game picks have inadvertently exposed her and her family to online harassment and death threats, underlining how quickly internet sensations can become targets of hostility. What began as innocent father-daughter fun has spiralled into a disturbing reminder of the dark side of virality and online engagement.