By Moses Joshua 
After intense backlash from fans and players, the league clarifies why it removed an ESPN-NFL Films segment that appeared to unfairly target Detroit’s Brian Branch.
A “Turning Point” Gone Wrong
NFL Films, in collaboration with ESPN, came under fire after releasing an episode of NFL Turning Point that focused on the Detroit Lions’ Week 6 clash with the Kansas City Chiefs. The segment spotlighted defensive back Brian Branch, portraying several of his on-field struggles and culminating with the violent hit from JuJu Smith-Schuster that preceded the now-infamous postgame brawl.
What was intended to be a deeper look into Branch’s perspective on the game quickly spiraled into controversy. Many fans accused NFL Films and ESPN of painting Branch in an unflattering light — showing his missed tackles, defensive lapses, and the brutal collision — while offering little balance or context.
The narration, provided by ESPN analyst Louis Riddick, added fuel to the fire. “He got showed up by (Patrick) Mahomes. He got juked by Xavier Worthy and took a shot from JuJu Smith-Schuster. The turning point led to Branch’s boiling point,” Riddick said during the segment — a line that drew widespread criticism for its harsh tone.
NFL Films Explains Its Decision
Following the backlash, NFL Films took the unusual step of pulling the footage entirely, releasing a statement to clarify its reasoning.
“NFL Films wants all of its shows to have a distinct voice and point of view,” the statement read. “In the case of NFL Turning Point, that voice and point of view is Louis Riddick’s. He spends time every week with the show’s producers watching each segment and going over the script before narrating them.”
The organization further explained that while the segment worked within the full nine-minute breakdown of the Lions-Chiefs matchup, it “felt overly critical” when viewed out of context on social media.
“On X, it felt overly critical to Brian Branch, so it was taken down,” NFL Films added.
Louis Riddick Responds
Shortly after the league’s statement, Louis Riddick addressed the controversy on his personal X account, expressing regret that the segment had been misinterpreted.
“The Detroit Lions organization is one that I have nothing but respect for,” Riddick wrote. “Ownership, Head Coach, General Manager, and players. Fast forward to this week, the Turning Point episode that was voiced by me recently that covered the Chiefs/Lions game didn’t come across the way it should have.”
He emphasized that the show’s intent was never to attack a player or team, stating,
“There is NEVER an intent to do a ‘hit piece’ on anyone or any team. That being said, I can see how the short clip that was posted could be taken as an attempt to cast the #Lions or Brian Branch in a calculated, unfavorable manner. I don’t want to be a part of that.”
Riddick concluded by pledging to ensure that future work under his name would leave “no room for misinterpretation.”
A Lesson in Context and Sensitivity
The incident underscores the growing scrutiny surrounding NFL media narratives and the influence of social media clips on public perception. While NFL Turning Point aims to give fans an inside look at defining game moments, this episode served as a reminder that context is everything — especially when highlighting individual performances.
For the Lions and Brian Branch, the controversy may have been an unwanted distraction, but it also revealed the strong support and loyalty from fans who were quick to defend one of their young defensive stars.
As the league moves forward, both the NFL and its media partners appear committed to maintaining storytelling integrity — while ensuring that respect for players remains front and center.