Gisele Bundchen’s recent romance has fizzled out, and the Brazilian model has pointed to her ex-husband, Tom Brady, as a contributing factor due to his participation in a Netflix celebrity roast.
At this event, the former New England Patriot and his family, including his ex-wife, became the subjects of numerous jokes. Bundchen felt that Brady’s decision to appear on the roast was ill-considered, particularly because it inadvertently put her new partner, Joaquim Valente, in an uncomfortable spotlight.
An insider told In Touch, “She blames the breakup on Tom. By agreeing to the roast, he put a target on Joaquim’s back.”
Brady and Bundchen, who married in 2009 after beginning their relationship in 2006, have two children. Their marriage ended in October 2022, amidst speculations tied to Brady’s brief retirement from and subsequent return to the NFL—claims Bundchen has refuted.
Valente, unfamiliar with the intense scrutiny that comes with dating a high-profile model, found the media attention challenging despite his long-standing friendship with Bundchen before they dated.
The couple has since put their relationship on hold. Valente has not been seen at Bundchen’s Florida home since April 2024, a year after they started dating.
“The spotlight was too much for him,” the source added. “Joaquim’s a regular guy, not accustomed to the attention he received.”
Furthermore, the media attention led to uncomfortable interactions for Valente, with people questioning whether he was the reason behind Bundchen and Brady’s divorce, which he reportedly found distressing.