Brett Favre is an NFL legend and a Hall of Fame quarterback. But his reputation has taken hits for quite a few things that have happened off the field.
He can add a new hit to that list with the report that Favre has been told to return $828,000 that he received from welfare funds that should have gone to needy families, according to Mississippi State Auditor Shad White.
The funds in question are related to money that Favre received for speaking engagements that he never attended for Families First For Mississippi, one of two non-profits who have been indicted on state and federal charges related to a giant embezzlement scheme.
When this was first reported in May 2020, it was announced that Favre had returned a portion of the money given to him and that he would return the rest. However, White said that he had “seen no records indicating Mr. Favre knew that (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) was the program that served as the source of the money he was paid.”
According to the announcement, Favre has to repay the money within 30 days or he will face a civil lawsuit.
As you might imagine, there were plenty of reactions to the news on social media, especially related to Favre’s politics and what that moment should have been meant for.
At Mississippi’s current monthly benefit level, a single mother would need to stay on Temporary Assistance for 345 years to receive as much in welfare funds as Brett Favre did. https://t.co/4GzxdPUg9I
— Shawn is at shawnfremstad.bsky.social (@ShawnFremstad) October 13, 2021
between this and texting an unsolicited dick pic to a female journalist, Brett Favre will be at the top of right-wing presidential polls any day now https://t.co/YmUXHiTGzd
— shauna (@goldengateblond) October 13, 2021
https://twitter.com/BillyWayneDavis/status/1448289023286341638
Can’t help but think about all of the people sitting in jail for pennies compared to $828k that weren’t privileged enough to get a letter demanding repayment instead of being indicted. SMH. https://t.co/BXsejALy3j
— not THAT brit__ny (@_Britterrss) October 13, 2021
Now we wait to see if Favre complies and returns all the money owed. If not, he could be setting himself up for a very bad legal situation and even worse PR situation.
About Sean Keeley
Along with writing for Awful Announcing and The Comeback, Sean is the Managing Editor for Comeback Media. Previously, he created the Syracuse blog Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician and wrote 'How To Grow An Orange: The Right Way to Brainwash Your Child Into Rooting for Syracuse.' He has also written non-Syracuse-related things for SB Nation, Curbed, and other outlets. He currently lives in Seattle where he is complaining about bagels. Send tips/comments/complaints to sean@thecomeback.com.