Cam Newton is clearing the air about his altercation with the Alabama A&M mascot, saying the scuffle was all in good fun.
The now viral moment happened last Friday at Legion Field in Birmingham, where Newton appeared with ESPN’s First Take crew ahead of the Magic City Classic between Alabama State and Alabama A&M.
After the mascots competed in a 40-yard dash on the field, Butch and Newton got into a brief altercation that ended with the former NFL MVP stunning the mascot with a hard jab.
It went crazy on social media, but Newton says it was all for show.
“I just thank God no one got hurt,” Newton said on his 4th&1 podcast. “It was all in good fun.”
Anyone watching Cam Newton get into it with the Alabama A&M Mascot? pic.twitter.com/0fA6l2FFJO
— Legend 🦁 (@Legendkilla691) October 24, 2025
Newton explained that the ESPN footage cut away before viewers could see the pair laughing and shaking hands afterward.
“If people really wanted to dig deep, they could’ve found the other clips,” he added.
“He should thank me for making him ‘Meme of the Year,’” Newton added. “Everybody can laugh about it now.”
Newton was on a roll while down in Birmingham. He also went against his co-hosts Ryan Clark and Steven A. Smith by saying the Iron Bowl with Alabama and Auburn was college football’s biggest rivalry.
