When the Buffalo Bills posted a message wishing the Toronto Blue Jays good luck in the MLB playoffs, few could’ve predicted the storm that would follow.
But in a region where loyalty to local teams runs deep, that seemingly innocuous tweet sparked an intense backlash, not just from fans, but from someone with deep roots in the franchise: Jessica Pegula.
A co-owner of the Bills and one of the top-ranked players in women’s tennis, Pegula took to social media in disbelief after seeing the team support the Blue Jays, who are set to face the New York Yankees in the American League Division Series.
Responding directly to the Bills‘ official account, Pegula simply wrote, “Ohhh???”, a brief but pointed reaction that summed up what many were feeling.
Her post immediately drew attention, including a reply from fellow tennis star Eugenie Bouchard, who happens to be Canadian.
“I second this. Ohhh???” Bouchard replied, echoing the confusion and stirring further debate.
A tweet that touched a nerve in Western New York
The Buffalo Bills‘ tweet read: “Good luck to our friends up North,” accompanied by a graphic that said, “Good luck in the playoffs Blue Jays.”
What may have been an attempt at light-hearted sportsmanship turned into a public relations misstep. With the Yankees representing the same state, and a massive segment of the fan base, it didn’t sit well with many. The sentiment from fans on X (formerly Twitter) was fierce.
“Shouldn’t we root for teams that actually play in the great state of New York?” one fan asked.
“Yeah, don’t call yourself a New York team again,” another wrote, while one comment simply declared, “I have never felt such betrayal.”
The Blue Jays, leaning into the moment, replied: “Blue Jays Mafia. You Know Ball,” and even posted a photo of Josh Allen, the Bills‘ quarterback, wearing a Blue Jays jersey.
Despite carrying the “New York” label, the Bills play their games in Orchard Park, a suburb of Buffalo, making them the only NFL team to actually play within the borders of New York State.
The New York Giants and New York Jets both play in New Jersey.
Buffalo fans often embrace this underdog identity. In a state dominated by New York City’s spotlight, where the Yankees, Mets, Knicks, and Rangers dominate headlines, Western New York has long felt like a distant outpost. But that distance has helped forge one of the NFL’s most passionate fan bases.
It’s a community built on grit, loyalty, and decades of perseverance. So when their beloved team publicly supports another country’s ball club, particularly against a fellow New York team, it feels like more than just a social media misstep.
It touches a nerve in fans who already feel overlooked by the broader sports world.
The moment serves as a reminder that in sports, even a well-meaning message can carry heavy symbolic weight.
And when that message contradicts the deeply held values of a team’s community, even co-owners like Jessica Pegula may feel compelled to speak up.
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