After a Los Angeles Chargers fan went viral for her passionate celebrations (and ultimately, her despair) during the team’s showdown against the Cowboys on Monday Night Football, some observers questioned whether she was an actor paid to cheer for the Chargers in a stadium that doesn’t always offer much home-field advantage.
But Merianne Do, who described herself as a stay-at-home mother of four, made an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show Tuesday and refuted speculation that she was an actor (or a robot).
“I wish I was getting paid,” Do said. “I wish I could make myself AI and as beautiful as I want. At the end of the day, this is me, guys. This is me, crazy mom of four, crazy Chargers fan, crazy fricking football fan, and it is what it is.”
In response to another skeptic on McAfee’s show, Do added that she didn’t have money on the game either.
“I’m that kind of person that when I buy a Powerball ticket and I lose, I’m literally sad, and people are like, ‘Why are you sad?'” Do said. “I’m like, ‘I’m not going to buy a ticket if I don’t want to win. I’m not going to a game and cheer on my team if I don’t fricking love them and want them to win.’ So that’s just how I live my life.”
Michael Owens/Getty Images
After the Chargers recovered a botched fair catch, they faced a fourth-and-goal, trailing the Cowboys 17-10. Do could be seen covering her mouth and taking deep breaths as the Chargers lined up the play, and after they scored, the camera caught her wild celebration. When the Cowboys ultimately prevailed, ESPN once again showed a devastated Do with her head in her hands.
Do said she is always passionate at sporting events, whether she’s watching the Chargers or her kids playing football or soccer.
“I’ve been a football fan as long as I can remember and a Chargers fan ever since I moved to California, almost 20 years ago,” Do said. “I love the passion, I love all of it, and I just feel like everything in our life, as long as we’re passionate about the things we love, who cares about everything else? This world is hard enough. Let’s enjoy the ride up and down.”
Do said she believes strongly that fans can will their team to victory, adding that everybody in her section “probably hates me” because she exhorts them to add their will to hers.
“It’s got to be in your heart,” Do said. “I feel like whoever our coach is, whoever our QB is, whoever our offensive coordinator is, we need to will them to be the best, we need to will them to win, to get that touchdown, to get that first down, to get whatever we need, because our heart means a lot in this world.”
McAfee closed by asking Do if the Chargers can make the playoffs.
“Everybody is like, ‘How can you still believe in your Chargers?'” Do said. “I’m like, ‘Do you lose faith in your spouse when they fail? Do you lose faith in your kids when they fail?’ I’m not going to lose faith in my Chargers when they make a mistake. It is life, guys, we do what we do and the best we can every day.
“But at the end of the day, we’re going to the playoffs.”
The Chargers are now 2-3, trailing the Kansas City Chiefs and Oakland Raiders in the AFC West standings.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.