Sophia Culpo's Shocking TikTok Shade: What She Said About Braxton Berrios and Zach Bryan
Influencer breakups rarely stay behind closed doors. When model and reality star Sophia Culpo split from Miami Dolphins wide receiver Braxton Berrios in early 2023, the fallout played out across social media feeds in real time. Rather than issuing standard publicist-crafted statements, Culpo turned directly to her audience, sparking waves of speculation with short video clips, subtle sound bites, and pointed audio trends.
The tension peaked when Culpo posted a late-2024 video that compared her ex-boyfriend to country music star Zach Bryan, whose own high-profile romantic fallout had dominated entertainment headlines. The video instantly ignited comment sections, racking up millions of impressions and refueling an ongoing debate over influencer relationship drama. Fresh interest surfaced after a Just Jared Report highlighted Culpo publicly shutting down circulating rumors that she and Berrios were spotted spending time together again.
📌 Key Takeaways:
- The Spark: In December 2024, Sophia Culpo posted a cryptic TikTok comparing ex-boyfriend Braxton Berrios to musician Zach Bryan following public controversies surrounding both men.
- The Backstory: Their contentious early 2023 split triggered recurring social media skirmishes, including Culpo’s deleted June 2023 video alluding to "love bombing" as Berrios began dating TikTok creator Alix Earle.
- Current Status: Culpo continues to draw firm boundaries online, publicly denying March 2026 rumors that the former couple had reconnected in private.
From NFL Sidelines to Viral Soundbites
Sophia Culpo and Braxton Berrios spent more than two years as one of lifestyle media's favorite athletic pairings. Culpo, who starred alongside her sisters Olivia and Aurora in TLC's docuseries The Culpo Sisters, brought an established digital following to the relationship. Berrios, an NFL wide receiver who signed with the Miami Dolphins in March 2023, provided the professional sports prestige. To their joint audience, the partnership looked seamless.
The illusion cracked in early 2023. Whispers of a quiet separation began circulating on Reddit discussion boards after the pair stopped appearing on each other's feeds. By spring, the split was official, but the narrative did not settle quietly. Berrios quickly surfaced in public with TikTok mega-influencer Alix Earle, igniting intense speculation over relationship overlap. The shift transformed a private separation into an ongoing digital spectacle.
The Zach Bryan Comparison: Decoding the December 2024 Video
Public interest reached a fever pitch in mid-December 2024. Culpo posted a casual video using a viral lip-sync format that instantly captured mainstream entertainment attention. In the clip, Culpo drew a direct parallel between Berrios and country singer Zach Bryan, whose messy split from internet personality Brianna "Chickenfry" LaPaglia had captured social media scrutiny just weeks prior.
The context was unmistakable. Bryan faced intense online backlash regarding emotional mistreatment and manipulative relationship behaviors following his breakup. By invoking his name alongside her ex, Culpo delivered an intentional critique without leveling explicit, actionable accusations. The video amassed hundreds of thousands of views within hours before commentary spread across TikTok and entertainment news outlets.
Followers immediately dissected the video's subtext. Many applauded Culpo for refusing to protect her ex-partner's clean-cut athletic image. Others questioned the ethics of keeping a two-year-old breakup in the algorithm's cycle. Culpo allowed the video to stand just long enough to cement the narrative before pivoting her feed back to commercial fashion partnerships.
Breakup Timeline: Tracking the Public Clashes and Key Milestones
Understanding the weight of Culpo's social posts requires examining the chronological flashpoints that defined the breakup from 2023 through 2026.
| Timeframe | Event & Development | Digital Fallout & Reaction |
|---|---|---|
| January, March 2023 | The couple quietly ends their two-year relationship; Berrios signs with the Miami Dolphins. | Fan boards note missing photos; breakup remains unconfirmed officially. |
| June 2023 | Berrios is spotted with creator Alix Earle; Culpo posts and deletes a "love bombing" video. | The Miami Herald covers the drama; Berrios posts a public video denying infidelity claims. |
| December 2024 | Culpo uploads a viral video comparing Berrios to country musician Zach Bryan. | People and Just Jared report on the clip, sparking debates on influencer accountability. |
| March 2026 | Rumors claim Culpo and Berrios were seen together in public. | Culpo firmly denies the rumors, insisting there is zero romantic reconciliation. |
Love Bombing Allegations and the Art of the Deleted Post
The December 2024 video was not Culpo's first viral shot across the bow. In June 2023, she posted a pointed video directly referencing behavioral red flags. The clip arrived just as Berrios and Alix Earle began appearing together publicly in the Hamptons and at industry events.
In that initial post, Culpo referenced the concept of "love bombing", the psychological practice of overwhelming a new partner with grand gestures and affection early on to establish control. When the video sparked immediate media pickup from regional outlets like the Miami Herald, Culpo deleted the post. She later maintained that the video "wasn't that deep" and was merely lighthearted content. The strategic upload-and-delete pattern became a standard playbook, generating headlines while insulating the creator from extended public relations exposure.
Berrios pushed back directly. In an unusual move for an active NFL player, he recorded an unscripted video inside his car addressing the accusations. Berrios insisted that his relationship with Culpo had ended cordially and denied that any infidelity took place prior to moving on with Earle. The public exchange created polarized factions across TikTok, pitting sports fans against beauty and lifestyle communities.
Setting the Record Straight in March 2026
Despite years passing since their official split, public interest in Culpo and Berrios has shown remarkable endurance. In March 2026, social media spotted-accounts and gossip channels claimed the former couple was seen meeting up. The speculation quickly gained traction, prompting followers to ask whether the past hostility had dissipated into a quiet friendship.
Culpo shut down the speculation immediately. Addressing the rumors head-on, she clarified that there had been no reunion and that she had zero interest in revisiting old territory. Her direct response demonstrated an intentional strategy: when an organic post serves her personal brand, she lets the humor breathe; when false reconciliation rumors risk undermining her agency, she corrects the record without hesitation.
The Evolving Economics of Creator Breakups
Public romantic fallout between athletes and digital creators reveals a broader shift in how modern celebrity operates. Relationship updates are no longer managed through exclusive magazine spreads. Instead, short-form video clips offer creators unmatched speed, allowing them to control the frame before conventional outlets catch up.
This dynamic carries inherent friction. While viral shade yields immense short-term engagement and algorithm placement, it permanently ties a creator's public profile to their former partner. Culpo's intermittent posts about Berrios gave her loyal audience moments of candid humor, but they also kept her tethered to NFL sports discourse. Moving through 2026, Culpo's focus has visibly pivoted toward individual lifestyle projects, wellness branding, and autonomous creative content.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why did Sophia Culpo compare Braxton Berrios to Zach Bryan on TikTok?
In December 2024, Sophia Culpo posted a clip referencing country singer Zach Bryan, who was facing intense social media scrutiny over his split from Brianna LaPaglia. Culpo used the viral sound to subtly imply that Berrios exhibited similar behavioral patterns during their two-year relationship.
What was the deleted "love bombing" video about?
In June 2023, shortly after Berrios was seen spending time with creator Alix Earle, Culpo uploaded a video referencing love bombing. While Culpo later deleted the clip and claimed it was not intended to be taken so seriously, the video prompted Berrios to post a public statement denying any cheating or bad behavior.
Are Sophia Culpo and Braxton Berrios back together?
No. Following renewed online speculation in March 2026 suggesting the two were seen out together, Culpo issued a direct clarification stating that the rumors were entirely unfounded and that they have not reunited.
Where Sophia Culpo Stands in 2026
The ongoing saga between Sophia Culpo and Braxton Berrios highlights how digital creators navigate modern romance under constant public observation. A cryptic video can reach millions in minutes, altering public perception long before traditional statements ever reach publication desks.
By using viral trends to articulate relationship realities, Culpo connected with an audience that values unfiltered candor over curated silence. Her March 2026 dismissal of lingering dating rumors reinforces that the drama has run its course. For Culpo, the focus has shifted firmly back to building her independent digital career outside the shadow of the football stadium.
