Kelly Stafford was “scared” — and now she’s just plain mad.
The wife of Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford revealed on her podcast — “The Morning After with Kelly Stafford” — that she had recent stomach problems that left her concerned, but she was “infuriated” by headlines painting her issue as potentially cancer.
“Real quick, we don’t think it’s anything. So, it’s not a big deal but it scared the f–k out of me,” Stafford said on the podcast.
On the podcast episode, she reportedly said she was awaiting results from testing to see what her stomach issues could be.
“I feel like my stomach’s not great. In the back of my mind, I’m thinking I have cancer,” Kelly, 34, said, according to Daily Mail.
Matthew and Kelly Stafford with their daughters, on Instagram.
Quarterback Matthew Stafford #9 of the Los Angeles Rams participates in drills during minicamp. Getty Images
“That’s where my mind goes because all of a sudden, things are starting to hurt that should be totally fine. And again, this could all be totally just in my head.”
That clip got blown out of proportion as news outlets reported that Kelly, who had a benign brain tumor surgically removed in 2019, now had cancer.
She took to Instagram on Monday to shut the rumors down.
“There is a bunch circulating right now and want to reiterate that I DO NOT HAVE CANCER,” Kelly said in the post.
“And to you so called journalists out there, be better. And stop using me as click bait because nfl camp is starting back”
Quarterback Matthew Stafford #9 of the Los Angeles Rams speaks at a news conference. Getty Images
The former UGA cheerleader’s brain surgery in 2019 came after she was diagnosed with an acoustic neuroma.
In an April 2019 Instagram post, Kelly explained how she was dealing with bouts of vertigo that she initially thought “was just me getting older,” but turned out to be a benign brain tumor which she then successfully got removed.
Kelly does not want to take away from those actually battling cancer.
“I’m infuriated. Most the time I wouldn’t care what people wrote because it didn’t matter. THIS MATTERS,” Kelly said in her Monday post.
“This matters because it takes away from the people who are fighting this horrible disease.. fighting to live another day, fighting to be there with the ones they love, fighting 24/7. So PLEASE send your prayers to them.”
The Stafford family in Hawaii, from Instagram.
The rumors swirled as the NFL training camps began to open with Stafford, 35, reporting to the field for the Rams, looking to have a comeback season.
The Rams reportedly tried to renegotiate the quarterback’s four-year, $160 million deal due to a salary cap squeeze, but Stafford declined.
Stafford’s contract, inked with the Rams last offseason, included $63 million at signing and an additional $57 million that became fully guaranteed in March 2023.
Stafford led the Rams to Super Bowl glory in February 2022 after a dominant regular season, but he struggled with injuries last season.
Quarterback Matthew Stafford (l.) of the Los Angeles Rams participates in offseason workouts. Getty Images
While also battling through a recurring elbow issue, Stafford threw an average of 231.9 yards per game, his lowest since 2010, and the Rams went 3-6 in games he started.
Stafford is reportedly entering 2023-24 at full health.
Kelly Stafford furious after health scare turns into ‘click bait’
