Tom Brady’s response to an insult against his daughter was perfect

Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen are no doubt a power couple. But for such a highly visible duo, they have managed to keep their children largely out of the spotlight—and they clearly won’t hesitate to take action when they feel their children have been wronged.

Brady proved that this week when he cut a radio interview short after one of the hosts made a negative comment about Brady’s 5-year-old daughter, Vivian.

“I’ve tried to come on this show for many years and showed you guys a lot of respect,” Brady said during his weekly segment on WEEI’s The Kirk & Callahan Show. “I’ve always tried and come on and do a good job for you guys. It’s very disappointing when you hear that, certainly. My daughter, or any child, they certainly don’t deserve that.”

Afterward, Brady added he’s evaluating whether or not he’s coming on the show again in light of co-host Alex Reimer’s cruel words about Vivian. (Who was just acting like a kid in the video Reimer was referring to, not an “annoying little pi**ant” like Reimer said.)

The whole situation is a great reminder that children—celebrity or not—deserve respect.

Parents already have so much to deal with, so it’s important to be mindful when discussing someone’s family. (Besides, child shaming is never cute or funny.)

We need to let kids be kids and that means accepting that they won’t always be on their best behavior.

We need to give everyone (including children) more grace to be themselves—in all their messy glory—while showing them they’re still loved.

All of us, even one of the greatest football players of all time, Tom Brady, can agree on that.