Supermodel Gisele Bündchen drew swift online criticism Sunday after her Instagram Father’s Day post celebrated her current husband and her father but made no mention of ex-husband Tom Brady, the retired NFL quarterback with whom she shares two children — a contrast made more noticeable because Brady had publicly honored her on Mother’s Day just weeks earlier.
Bündchen, 45, posted a tribute honoring Joaquim Valente — her husband since December 2025 and father of their 16-month-old son — along with her own father, Valdir Bündchen. The caption read in part: “Happy Father’s Day @joaquimvalente! Thank you for leading by example, and for the values you embody, love, humility, integrity, discipline, kindness and consistency. You are an incredible role model. We are all so grateful for you, and we love you so much.” She added a note to her father: “And dad, thank you for your unconditional love, wisdom, and support through every stage of my life.” The post ended with a general message: “Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there. ❤️”
The accompanying photos included family moments with Valente and their young son, such as one on a beach featuring a rainbow and another showing Valente in a martial arts gi with the toddler. Some images also depicted Valente with Bündchen’s older children from her previous marriage. Brady received no shoutout.
Brady, 48, marked Father’s Day by posting about his own father, whom he called his “hero,” and sharing time with his three children: son Jack, 18 (with ex Bridget Moynahan), and Benjamin, 16, and daughter Vivian, 13 (with Bündchen). He has not publicly commented on Bündchen’s post.
Tom Brady’s ex-wife Gisele Bündchen snubs him in a new Father’s Day post on Instagram. pic.twitter.com/MGwLUv8pxh
— FearBuck (@FearedBuck) June 21, 2026
The omission quickly became a topic of discussion across social media and entertainment outlets. Some users expressed disappointment or frustration, noting that Brady had recently wished Bündchen well on Mother’s Day. On May 10, 2026, Brady posted on Instagram Stories a “Happy Mother’s Day” message that included both Bündchen and Moynahan, featuring a photo of Bündchen kissing Jack while Moynahan stood nearby. Critics argued the lack of reciprocity on Father’s Day was conspicuous, especially given Brady’s public acknowledgment of the mother of his children just a month prior.
Others defended Bündchen’s choice. Supporters argued that she was appropriately focusing on her current marriage and young child, that public holiday wishes to ex-spouses are not mandatory, and that she appears content in her new chapter. Some pointed out that blended families navigate these moments differently and that private co-parenting arrangements matter more than social media gestures.
The exchange highlights the intense public scrutiny that follows high-profile separations, particularly when children and ongoing co-parenting are involved. Bündchen and Brady finalized their divorce in late 2022 after 13 years of marriage. At the time, both described the decision as difficult but reached mutually, citing growing apart amid differing priorities — including Brady’s brief unretirement from football. Since then, both have moved forward: Bündchen with Valente and their son, and Brady balancing fatherhood across households while remaining a prominent public figure.
