So, it appears the bad blood between New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and former head coach Bill Belichick is still very much real.
As Kraft and the Patriots get set for the 11th Super Bowl of his ownership, and the first since 1997 without Belichick at head coach, Belichick is enjoying his first offseason as the head coach at the University of North Carolina.
As such, he took in the thrilling UNC-Duke basketball game on Jan. 7 with his girlfriend, Jordon Hudson. The Chapel Hill power couple was spotted on the sidelines, and it was Hudson’s interesting shirt choice that raised some eyebrows.
Bill Belichick’s Girlfriend Takes Apparent Shot at Robert Kraft
Cameras caught Hudson wearing an “Orchids of Asia Day Spa” T-shirt, an apparent jab at Kraft. The owner was charged with two counts of solicitation in 2019 after authorities allegedly caught him receiving sexual acts in exchange for money as part of a larger prostitution ring inside the Florida massage parlor. The charges were eventually dropped, but it was obviously an embarrassing situation for the then-77-year-old.
TMZ posted photos of Hudson wearing the shirt at the Dean Smith Center (and more up-close versions here).
“Hudson’s choice to wear the spa’s merchandise appeared deliberate, especially given Belichick’s long and complicated history with Kraft following their split in New England,” TMZ wrote. “After Belichick’s departure, the two exchanged public barbs with Kraft saying he took ‘a big risk’ hiring Belichick, and Belichick firing back with pointed remarks about ownership interference.”
The Patriots and Belichick parted ways following the 2023 season, ending a run that spanned more than two decades. Despite trying to position the divorce as mutual at the time, Kraft has since insisted he fired Belichick.
Revisiting Patriots’ Public Divorce for Belichick, Kraft
“I kept him for 24 years,” Kraft said on “The Breakfast Club” podcast in 2024, as transcribed by Boston.com. “I kept him for 24 years,” Kraft said. “I didn’t enjoy having to fire him, but I tried to do it — if you look at the press conference and how it happened, tried to do it in a classy way.
“What he did for us was great. People need to adapt. People need to adapt and if they don’t, things can change. In life, it’s about getting good chemistry and trust and I feel that our record the last three or four years wasn’t what I wanted.”
Belichick, meanwhile, is a notorious grudge holder. After helping the Patriots win six Super Bowl titles during his historic reign, it didn’t take long for him to flip on Kraft and New England. Belichick banned Patriots scouts from attending North Carolina practice this past season, an early-season report that Belichick somewhat shockingly confirmed shortly thereafter.
“It’s obvious I’m not welcome at their facility, so they’re not welcome at ours,” Belichick told reporters in September after his first win with the Tar Heels.
There’s also some irony with the timing of this latest stunt from Hudson. Belichick and Kraft should be able to find some common ground right now after both were denied enshrinement into the Pro Football Hall of Fame earlier this month.
That coincidence also means there’s an outside chance both could go in together next year, which might make for an uncomfortable full-circle moment.
Bill Belichick’s Girlfriend Apparently Trolls Robert Kraft With Spa Shirt