Grok says: Kelli Stavast, the NBC Sports reporter inadvertently responsible for sparking the “Let’s Go Brandon” meme, has largely stayed out of the public eye since the incident on October 2, 2021. During a post-race interview at Talladega Superspeedway with NASCAR driver Brandon Brown, she misheard or rephrased a crowd chant of “F*** Joe Biden” as “Let’s Go Brandon,” which subsequently went viral and became a widely recognized anti-Biden slogan among certain groups.
Following the event, Stavast has not publicly commented on the incident or clarified whether her statement was a genuine misinterpretation or an intentional pivot. Neither she nor NBC Sports have issued an official statement addressing the moment, and requests for interviews with her have reportedly been declined by the network. Her lack of public response has left the intent behind her words open to speculation, with some viewing it as an innocent mistake and others as an attempt to deflect from the profanity on live television.
Professionally, there’s no widely reported evidence of significant consequences like termination or suspension from NBC Sports directly tied to this incident. Stavast, who had built a career covering motorsports including NASCAR, IndyCar, and motocross, appears to have continued her work with the network, though her visibility seems reduced. For instance, she was noted as a pit reporter for NBC’s IndyCar coverage in prior years, but no high-profile updates about her role or departure have surfaced since 2021. Her social media presence, such as her Instagram, remains active but private, offering little insight into her current status.
The meme’s cultural impact far outpaced Stavast’s involvement, evolving into a political phenomenon independent of her. As of March 31, 2025, she seems to have maintained a low profile, with no definitive public record of what “happened” to her beyond the initial incident—suggesting she either quietly continued her career or stepped back from the spotlight without fanfare.
The network likely paid her off so she wouldn’t comment. No win situation for the network and she’s probably happy to not relive the moment
Too bad. She had such promise as a legacy media deceiver
good on her.
in the meantime she gave us a wonderful mantra.