"Women have been brainwashed": Columnist makes controversial claim about Tom Brady and Gisele Bündchen divorce

Tom Brady and Gisele Bündchen’s divorce is back in the spotlight after a columnist offered a blunt take on what led to the end of their 13-year marriage. The retired NFL star and seven-time Super Bowl champion has faced years of scrutiny over the split, particularly after he returned to football in 2022. Now, comments from columnist Liz Jones, prompted by Lars Anderson’s new biography of Brady, have shifted attention toward the pressures surrounding the former couple and the choices Brady made during the final stage of his playing career.Tom Brady divorce debate takes a new turnJones has challenged the idea that Brady should carry the blame for the marriage ending. Writing about Anderson’s biography, Brady: An American Story and the Price of Greatness, she argued that the book presents a more balanced account of the events surrounding the couple’s separation."I hate men but don't blame Tom Brady for his divorce... I pity him," Jones wrote.Her comments go beyond Brady and Bündchen’s relationship. Jones questioned the expectations placed on couples when one partner has an extremely demanding career. Brady’s decision to return for the 2022 NFL season had already put intense pressure on his personal life, with the quarterback spending another year focused on football before retiring for good in 2023.Jones also took aim at wider social expectations surrounding marriage, arguing that people can become dissatisfied even when they appear to have achieved a great deal."Women are always complaining their husband doesn't work hard enough, but when he does, we whine," Jones wrote. "Most women rejoice when their husband is always working. So, despite being a misandrist, I don't entirely blame Tom for the split and feel this new book is, for the most part, a more balanced view of one of the most famous unconscious uncouplings of the modern era."Tom Brady reportedly changed his NFL plans after divorceThe discussion becomes even more significant when viewed against Brady’s final NFL season. After winning his seventh Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Brady briefly retired before returning in 2022. Tampa Bay reached the playoffs, but its season ended with a wild-card loss to the Dallas Cowboys.Anderson has since suggested that Brady may have continued playing had his family situation been different. He told GQ that Brady ultimately stepped away because the divorce had changed his priorities."I think if Tom could do it over again, he wouldn't have come back for that final season, but does that mean the marriage could have been saved? I have no idea," Anderson said. "But there also was a real sense in the Buccaneers' locker room that they had a team that could win it all. Clyde Christensen, who was a quarterback coach in Tampa and a wonderful man, said, 'We were hoping that Tom would actually come out of retirement again, because we think we could have gotten number eight that year.'"But Tom told him, 'Look, because of the divorce, it's changing so much and I don't know how I'm going to navigate this new portion of my life.' So ultimately, he did walk away for his kids. But if they didn't have kids, I'm certain he would still be playing. There's no doubt in my mind."Brady has since built a new chapter away from the NFL field, working as a FOX Sports analyst and holding a minority ownership stake in the Las Vegas Raiders.Stay updated with the latest Asian Games 2026 news, check the Asian Games medal tally and complete Asian Games schedule.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.