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'{{Short description|American youth football player (born 2012)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}} {{Infobox person | name = Baby Gronk | image = | image_size = | birth_name = Madden San Miguel | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2012|11|04}} | birth_place = [[Frisco, Texas]], U.S. | known_for = [[American football]], social media virality | height = {{space}}(2021) | height_ft = 2678268 | height_in = 1 | website = https://www.instagram.com/maddensanmiguel/?hl=en | module = {{Infobox YouTube personality | channel_name = | channel_direct_url = @BABYGRONKGOATED | channel_display_name = BABY GRONK | presenter = Madden San Miguel<br/>Jake San Miguel | years_active = 2021–present | genre = Comedy, sports, [[YouTube Shorts]] | subscribers = 135 thousand | subscriber_date = June 15, 2023 | views = 71.1 million | view_date = June 15, 2023 | silver_year = 2023 | silver_button = yes | embed = yes }} }} '''Madden San Miguel''' (born November 4, 2012), better known by his nickname, '''Baby Gronk''', is an American youth [[American football|football]] player and social media personality. Born to Jake San Miguel, San Miguel developed a rigorous love for football at a young age. His father, who claims to have master-planned his son's life prior to his birth, trained him for a career in the [[National Football League]] (NFL) while the boy was still in elementary school, micromanaging his diet and exercise. Due to his size, he was nicknamed "Baby Gronk" in honor of football player [[Rob Gronkowski]]. Wanting for him and his son to go viral, Jake, a [[digital marketer]], promoted his son's football skills online, leading to him amassing a large social media following in the early 2020s. Jake frequently shepherded his son across the country, meeting with high-profile celebrities and catching the eyes of universities due to his talent on the field. In March 2023, San Miguel met [[Louisiana State University]] social media personality and [[LSU Tigers women's gymnastics|gymnast]] [[Olivia Dunne]]; videos of the interaction were posted on San Miguel's social media. A [[TikTok]] video commentating on the incident subsequently went viral in June, and Jake received extensive backlash, largely in regards to the sexually explicit marketing of the interaction and general dislike over his creation of the Baby Gronk persona. == Early life == Madden San Miguel was born on November 4, 2012, in [[Frisco, Texas]], United States.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Misra |first=Ishan |date=2023-06-11 |title=Who are Baby Gronk's parents Jake and Elizabeth Miguel? |url=https://firstsportz.com/nfl-baby-gronks-parents/ |access-date=2023-07-12 |website=FirstSportz |language=en-US}}</ref> His father, Jake San Miguel, named him after the football video game series [[Madden NFL]].<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Alexander |first=Ari |date=2020-07-20 |title=7-year-old Texas football celebrity 'Baby Gronk' creates buzz |url=https://www.click2houston.com/sports/2020/07/20/7-year-old-texas-football-celebrity-baby-gronk-creates-buzz/ |access-date=2023-06-15 |website=KPRC |language=en}}</ref> Jake played football in his youth, having been a [[running back]] in [[High school football|high school]] and playing for [[Emporia State University]], but claimed that "drugs got in the way" of him playing at the higher level.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title="Baby Gronk": The 7-Year-Old Football Star |url=https://spectrumlocalnews.com/tx/austin/news/2021/01/08/-baby-gronk---the-7-year-old-football-star |access-date=2023-07-01 |website=spectrumlocalnews.com |language=en}}</ref> Jake spent much of his life in and out of prison and his father was imprisoned for murder. Jake stated in 2022 that he sought to "break the family curse" with Madden. Jake has stated that he planned out San Miguel's life prior to his birth,<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Legend of Baby Gronk |url=https://www.baynews9.com/fl/tampa/sports/2022/01/30/the-legend-of-baby-gronk |access-date=2023-06-15 |website=www.baynews9.com |language=en}}</ref> claiming to have had a blueprint for his son's life at ages 15–16.<ref name=":3" /> In a ''[[TMZ]]'' interview in 2023, he stated that his goal was to become a millionaire by his [[Twelfth grade#United States|senior year]] of high school "with or without football."<ref name="tmz.com">{{Cite web |title=Baby Gronk's Dad Claps Back At Haters, My Kid's Going To Be A Millionaire! |url=https://www.tmz.com/2023/06/10/baby-gronk-dad-claps-back-haters-millionaire/ |access-date=2023-07-01 |website=TMZ |language=en}}</ref> San Miguel became involved in football during [[Preschool|pre-school]]<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=August 13, 2020 |title=7-year-old football celebrity 'Baby Gronk' tops 100k followers on Instagram; signs with Boosie sports management |url=https://www.wfaa.com/video/sports/7-year-old-football-celebrity-baby-gronk-tops-100k-followers-on-instagram-signs-with-boosie-sports-management/287-98b33d18-5d95-4e79-9251-a6a6866afabb |access-date=2023-07-01 |website=wfaa.com |language=en-US}}</ref> at age 5, after seeing football videos on [[YouTube]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2021-08-23 |title=Hunter and Mya sit down with viral-sensation 'Baby Gronk' |url=https://www.myarklamiss.com/news/hunter-and-mya-sit-down-with-viral-sensation-baby-gronk/ |access-date=2023-07-01 |website=KTVE - myarklamiss.com |language=en-US}}</ref> San Miguel has been noted for his immense size; in 2021, at age 9, he was {{Height|ft=4|in=9|out=cm}} and weighed {{Convert|88|lb|kg}}.<ref name=":6" /> The question regarding origin of the nickname "Baby Gronk" has been answered with conflicting accounts; in 2021, San Miguel stated that the nickname was coined by classmates during [[Recess (break)|recess]] while they were chasing him,<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=Amaranthus |first=Bri |date=2021-08-02 |title=Meet 'Baby Gronk': The 8-Year-Old Football Celebrity and Cowboys Friend |url=https://www.si.com/nfl/cowboys/news/meet-baby-gronk-8-year-old-football-celebrity-dallas-cowboys-nfl-news |access-date=2023-06-15 |website=FanNation Dallas Cowboys News, Analysis and More |language=en}}</ref> while Jake alleged in the same year that it came from when he was visiting San Miguel's school and saw that he had an adult chair instead of a children's chair.<ref name=":2" /> Later, in 2022, San Miguel stated the moniker was coined by his father after he dragged his opponents in a game to the [[end zone]] after a [[reception (gridiron football)|reception]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gaither |first=Steven J. |date=2022-06-07 |title=Third Grader named Baby Gronk takes visit to Jackson State |url=https://hbcugameday.com/2022/06/07/third-grader-named-baby-gronk-takes-visit-to-jackson-state/ |access-date=2023-07-01 |website=HBCU Gameday |language=en-US}}</ref> The term is an homage to [[Rob Gronkowski]], an NFL [[tight end]]. Jake oversaw San Miguel's early football career, carefully managing his nutrition; he was put on a diet of chicken, rice, yogurt, [[oatmeal]], and apples,<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Moose |first=Cory |date=August 23, 2020 |title=Meet "Baby Gronk" the 7-year-old celebrity |url=https://www.newswest9.com/article/sports/baby-gronk-madden-san-miguel-boosie/513-7ed61860-683d-42f8-bfec-5ddf39ed0e6f |access-date=2023-07-01 |website=newswest9.com |language=en-US}}</ref> and his fitness was also rigorously monitored.<ref name=":0" /> San Miguel hopes to head to the NFL.<ref name=":4" /> == Social media virality == Jake, a [[digital marketer]] with a thirst for internet fame,<ref name=":6">{{Cite news |last=Mechling |first=Lauren |date=2023-06-26 |title=Baby Gronk, internet stardom and the Sports Dad nightmare writ large |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/jun/26/baby-gronk-father-instagram-football |access-date=2023-07-01 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> promoted his son's feats online, primarily [[Instagram]]. By August 2020, San Miguel's account on Instagram had amassed 100 thousand followers,<ref name=":1" /> including San Miguel's favorite player, [[Ezekiel Elliott]], then running back for the [[Dallas Cowboys]] who met San Miguel while he was in [[kindergarten]],<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":0" /> as well as other NFL players such as [[George Kittle]], and [[Aqib Talib]].<ref name=":1" /> San Miguel's internet fame garnered the attention of rapper [[Boosie]], who signed the boy to his marketing and sports management group in May 2020.<ref name=":0" /> Jake frequently utilized the attention his son received to shepherd him throughout universities across the United States,<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |last=Wasserman |first=Ari |title=Who is 'Baby Gronk'? The father of the social media sensation shares his plan |url=https://theathletic.com/4592818/2023/06/08/baby-gronk-father-college-football-qa/ |access-date=2023-07-01 |website=The Athletic |language=en}}</ref> with his abnormal good skills in football grabbing the attention of many of them, who sought to recruit the boy.<ref name=":9">{{Cite web |last=Druin |first=Donnie |date=2023-06-09 |title=Cardinals Legend J.J. Watt Reacts to Baby Gronk |url=https://www.si.com/nfl/cardinals/analysis/arizona-cardinals-legend-jj-watt-reacts-baby-gronk |access-date=2023-07-01 |website=Sports Illustrated Arizona Cardinals News, Analysis and More |language=en}}</ref> In 2021, San Miguel verbally committed to the [[University of Oregon]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-06-20 |title=8-year-old social media sensation, Baby Gronk, visits LSU camp and makes a mark in Louisiana |url=https://www.brproud.com/news/8-year-old-social-media-sensation-baby-gronk-visits-lsu-camp-and-makes-a-mark-in-louisiana/ |access-date=2023-07-01 |website=BRProud.com |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2021, San Miguel was highlighted in a ''[[Sports Illustrated]]'' interest story by Bri Amaranthus titled "Meet 'Baby Gronk': The 8-Year-Old Football Celebrity and [[Dallas Cowboys|Cowboys]] Friend."<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":5" /> The piece opens by describing a scene where San Miguel exits a lamborghini with a "Baby Gronk" diamond chain, exclaiming "I don't play football because I love it, I play for the money!" The article noted that for all the antics San Miguel played on camera, he was a comparatively normal boy of his age in real life, believing that girls have [[cooties]] and liking to beat his friends in video games.<ref name=":5" /> == Collaboration with Olivia Dunne and backlash == === Rendezvous with Olivia Dunne === Jake's enormous propagation of San Miguel online led to him accumulating an additional half a million followers across all social media platforms by June 2023. Writing for ''[[The Guardian]],'' Lauren Mechling dubbed San Miguel as "a [[wikt:Zelig|Zelig]] figure in the world of sports." San Miguel continued to interact with figures such as [[Shaquille O'Neal]], [[Mark Wahlberg]], and others of their caliber.<ref name=":6" /> {{External media|title=Baby Gronk "rizzing" Olivia Dunne|caption=via [[YouTube]]|video1=[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyK5GAr-yec&t=1s] – LIVVY DUNNE KNOWS I GOT RIZZ (March 15, 2023)|float=left|headerimage=[[File:YouTube full-color icon (2017).svg|alt=Logo of Instagram|x20px|right]]}}{{External media|topic=Henry de Tolla's video on the incident|caption=via [[TikTok]]|video1=[https://www.tiktok.com/@h00pify/video/7211586785061670187?lang=en] - Do you think Baby Gronk will lead LSU to a National Championship? (March 17, 2023)|headerimage=[[File:TikTok logo.svg|alt=TikTok logo|x20px|right]]}} On March 15, 2023, Jake posted a video on San Miguel's social media pages, where the latter met with [[Olivia Dunne]], a prominent social media influencer and member of the [[Louisiana State University]] (LSU) [[LSU Tigers women's gymnastics|gymnastics team]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-06-09 |title=A Sex-Shaming Rant About Margaritas Accidentally Became the Song of the Summer |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/09/style/margarita-song-tiktok.html |access-date=2023-06-15 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Jake alleged that they were able to connect via mutual friends.<ref name=":8" /> In the video, Dunne (nicknamed Livvy), clad in a crop top, pulls San Miguel towards her for a hug. Mechling described San Miguel as visibly awkward, if not flat-out uncomfortable, attributing it to his belief in cooties.<ref name=":6" /> In the video, Dunne convinces San Miguel to commit to LSU. Two days later, on March 17, '''Henry de Tolla''', a 21-year-old [[lacrosse]] player at the [[University of Massachusetts Lowell]], known by his internet alias of '''h00pify''', released a video on [[TikTok]] about the rendezvous, adding his own commentary and proclaiming that "Livvy [[Rizz (slang)|rizzed]] him up."<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |date=2023-06-08 |title=He's Baby Gronk. She's Livvy. He's got drip and she rizzed him up (and we've got it translated) |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/baby-gronk-livvy-rizz-explainer-rcna88392 |access-date=2023-06-15 |website=NBC News |language=en}}</ref> Months later, after the video was reposted on [[Twitter]], the video garnered immense virality,<ref name=":7" /> amassing 3.4 million views by July.<ref>{{Cite web |title=H00PIFY on TikTok |url=https://www.tiktok.com/@h00pify/video/7211586785061670187?lang=en |access-date=2023-07-01 |website=TikTok |language=en}}</ref> De Tolla's video itself received some backlash, with many mocking his delivery, with him staring into the camera unblinkingly while speaking in a monotone yet enthusiastic cadence. Some were also confused by the immense use of [[List of Generation Z slang|slang]] in the video, questioning their age and sanity.<ref name=":7" /> In an interview with [[NBC News]], de Tolla himself admitted that the video was "silly," stating that "If you don't know what these words mean, it just sounds like I'm speaking gibberish almost."<ref name=":7" /> The video spawned a series of memes on the internet, with many heralding Baby Gronk as the new "rizz king," having stolen Olivia Dunne from "the drip king."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-08 |title=Livvy rizzed up Baby Gronk, the new Drip King meme explained |url=https://mashable.com/article/baby-gronk-rizz-livvy-drip-king-meme-joke-explained |access-date=2023-07-01 |website=Mashable |language=en}}</ref> On July 6, Jake posted to San Miguel's Instagram, proclaiming that San Miguel had committed to LSU. The post was deleted shortly after, with Jake taking to Twitter to state that the graphic designer who made the image used in the post had confused which team he was actually committing to. Subsequently, a new post was made, indicating that he was going to the [[Oklahoma Sooners football|University of Oklahoma]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-07-08 |title=Seconds After 'Committing', LSU Fanboy Baby Gronk Apologizes to His 329,000 Admirers for a Public Embarrassment |url=https://www.essentiallysports.com/nfl-news-seconds-after-committing-lsu-fanboy-baby-gronk-apologizes-to-his-three-hundred-twent-nine-thousand-admirers-for-a-public-embarrassment/ |access-date=2023-07-12 |website=EssentiallySports}}</ref> === Subsequent backlash === Though Dunne herself did not literally "rizz" San Miguel,<ref name=":7" /> the inherently sexual marketing of the collaboration resulted in a massive backlash, with Jake being lambasted for letting his son be embraced by Dunne, a noted [[sex symbol]]. The controversy finally precipitated a massive wave of criticism towards the Baby Gronk persona and in particular Jake, who was widely chastised for monetarily using his son for internet content and stage parenting.<ref name=":6" /> The Baby Gronk persona came under fire in particular from many in the sports world. Former [[Arizona Cardinals]] player [[J. J. Watt]], responding to a Twitter user asking for his opinion on the situation, stated that "kids should play multiple sports and kids should be allowed to be kids... no kid should be playing one sport all year & no kid should be training 'like a pro' until at least HS."<ref name=":9" /> [[Chris Long]], a former NFL [[defensive end]], denounced Jake's marketing of San Miguel, stating on his [[Chris Long#Career after football|''Green Light'']], "I have no problem with profiting off the internet, this is what we're all doing. But the difference is we're not using a 10-year-old kid to do it," before expressing worry on how this will affect San Miguel's development.<ref name=":6" /> In response to the pushback, Jake dismissed his critics as "[[wikt:hater#English|haters]]." When questioned on the criticism he received following the incident, Jake attributed it to older generations being out of touch, stating "It's a new era, it's a new generation ... The people that are normally jealous of us is kinda older. They just don't get it. The times have changed – [[Elon Musk]] about to [[SpaceX Mars program|move us to Mars]]."<ref name="tmz.com"/> In spite of the rampant castigation by those in the sports world, Jake continued to contact many players and sports commentators, asking to collaborate, including social media influencer and former collegiate golfer [[Paige Spiranac]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gaydos |first=Ryan |date=2023-06-12 |title='Baby Gronk' story stirs reaction across sports world on social media |url=https://www.foxnews.com/sports/baby-gronk-story-stirs-reaction-across-sports-world-social-media |access-date=2023-07-01 |website=Fox News |language=en-US}}</ref> The controversy intensified after an April 14<ref>{{Citation |title=Baby Gronk {{!}} Bring The Juice Podcast {{!}} Hosted by Frank Dalena & Mykal Walker |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9guPGJffSfE |access-date=2023-07-01 |language=en}}</ref> episode of the ''Bring the Juice'' podcast featuring San Miguel and his father went viral. In a particularly viral segment of the episode, the two hosts of the podcast ask San Miguel a serious of often sexually suggestive questions, such as asking if he would take Dunne as his prom date and asking if "he was him." Jake would then proceed to feed his son answers to this question, including, in response to a question regarding how he will retain his football skills even if he skips middle and high school, instructing San Miguel to say that he's "gonna get full-body massages from [[wikt:baddie|baddies]]."<ref name=":10">{{Cite web |last=Gaydos |first=Ryan |date=2023-06-14 |title=Sports world pans latest 'Baby Gronk' interview: 'This makes me uncomfortable' |url=https://www.foxnews.com/sports/sports-world-pans-latest-baby-gronk-interview-makes-uncomfortable |access-date=2023-07-01 |website=Fox News |language=en-US}}</ref> After resurfacing via a tweet on June 13, the clip led to Jake garnering more backlash.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Joseph |first=Andrew |date=2023-06-13 |title=Baby Gronk's dad was ripped for feeding answers to his son in an uncomfortable podcast interview |url=https://ftw.usatoday.com/lists/baby-gronk-dad-jake-san-miguel-podcast-interview-backlash-reaction |access-date=2023-07-01 |website=For The Win |language=en-US}}</ref> On June 18, a post was made on Baby Gronk's Instagram, declaring that he had retired from football.<ref name=":6" /> Writing for ''[[The Irish Times]]'', Dave Hannigan ridiculed the move, remarking "A kid fooling around online or serious brand pivot by a father worried about how much the world is appalled at his child exploitation? Truth or scared? Doesn't matter. Still went viral."<ref name=":11">{{Cite news |title=Always a price to be paid: Baby Gronk, the most famous 10-year-old kid in America |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/2023/06/21/always-a-price-to-be-paid-madden-san-miguel-the-most-famous-10-year-old-kid-in-america/ |access-date=2023-07-01 |newspaper=The Irish Times |language=en}}</ref> In spite of the announcement, the controversy persisted. On June 28, while appearing at Tight End University, Rob Gronkowski revealed that Jake had contacted him 500 times in the month prior while on [[Will Compton]] and [[Taylor Lewan]]'s podcast.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gaydos |first=Ryan |date=2023-06-29 |title=Rob Gronkowski pans 'Baby Gronk,' reveals his dad contacted him '500 times' |url=https://www.foxnews.com/sports/rob-gronkowski-pans-baby-gronk-reveals-dad-contacted500-times |access-date=2023-07-01 |website=Fox News |language=en-US}}</ref> Gronkowski denounced the fad as annoying, and having "gone too far,"<ref>{{Cite web |last=Roscoe |first=Jules |date=2023-06-29 |title=Gronk: Baby Gronk's Dad Has Gone 'Too Far,' Will Be Cease-and-Desisted |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/epvpba/gronk-baby-gronks-dad-has-gone-too-far-will-be-cease-and-desisted |access-date=2023-07-01 |website=Vice |language=en}}</ref> and when Lewan<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rob Gronkowski says 'Baby Gronk' is 'awkward. It's too far.' |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2023/06/29/rob-gronkowski-reaction-baby-gronk-jake-san-miguel-madden/70369397007/ |access-date=2023-07-01 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US}}</ref> later suggested that as the [[eponym]] behind San Miguel's moniker, he was the only one capable of putting an end to the Baby Gronk promotion, Gronkowski proceeded to threaten a [[cease and desist]] order against Jake.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-29 |title=Rob Gronkowski says that he's bothered by 'awkward' Baby Gronk situation |url=https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/rob-gronkowski-says-that-hes-bothered-by-awkward-baby-gronk-situation/ |access-date=2023-07-01 |website=CBSSports.com |language=en}}</ref> In reaction to the situation, many highlighted the Baby Gronk fiasco as an exemplary instance of what Mechling described as the "sports dad," stating "San Miguel Sr is the viral, outsize iteration of the parent on the sideline who screams at his kid, his kid's teammate, the kid on the other team, or even a fellow parent. He can't let his kid figure his own life out for himself." Baby Gronk was illustrated as the personification behind the increasing trend of American parents forcing their children to commit much of their youth to sports, largely as a way to combat [[College admissions in the United States|the record low acceptance rates of universities in the United States]].<ref name=":6" /> The dynamic between San Miguel and his father was frequently compared to the plight of various other athletes who also faced immense pressure from their parents, most frequently the relationship between [[Tiger Woods]] and [[Earl Woods]].<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":11" /><ref name=":10" /> == References == {{Reflist}} [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:2012 births]]'