Por Renan Filho · 2026-10-07**Lead**
New England Patriots rookie quarterback Drake Maye has ignited a fresh wave of public debate over one of the most documented achievements in human history, stating in a recent interview that he is "a little bit skeptical" that the United States actually landed astronauts on the Moon in 1969. The comments, made during a lighthearted segment on a Boston sports radio show, quickly went viral, drawing a measured but firm response from NASA, which reiterated the overwhelming evidence supporting the Apollo 11 mission and the five subsequent lunar landings.
**Context**
During an appearance on 98.5 The Sports Hub's "Zolak & Bertrand" program on Monday, the 22-year-old quarterback was asked a series of rapid-fire questions, including whether he believed the Moon landing was real. Maye paused before answering, "I'm a little bit skeptical, to be honest. I've seen some stuff. I don't know. I'm not saying it's fake, but I've got questions." The admission, delivered with a laugh, was initially treated as a lighthearted moment by the hosts, but it quickly spread across social media platforms, drawing both ridicule and support from fans and commentators.
Maye, who was selected by the Patriots with the third overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, is not the first high-profile athlete to express doubt about the Moon landings. In 2019, NBA star Kyrie Irving made similar comments, later apologizing after a backlash from scientists and educators. The persistence of such skepticism, even among well-educated public figures, highlights the enduring appeal of conspiracy theories that claim the Apollo missions were staged by NASA and the U.S. government to win the Space Race against the Soviet Union.
NASA, for its part, has decades of experience addressing Moon landing denial. The agency maintains a dedicated webpage titled "Moon Landing Hoax: The Real Story" that debunks common myths, including claims about fluttering flags, missing stars in photographs, and the absence of a blast crater under the lunar module. The evidence for the landings includes 382 kilograms of Moon rocks brought back to Earth, thousands of photographs and hours of video footage, and independent tracking data from observatories in multiple countries, including the Soviet Union, which had every reason to expose a hoax but never did.
**Analise**
Maye's comments, while seemingly offhand, carry weight because of his platform as a prominent young athlete in a sports-obsessed city like Boston. When a public figure with millions of followers expresses doubt about a well-established scientific fact, it can reinforce misconceptions among fans who may not have the time or inclination to examine the evidence themselves. This phenomenon, often called the "celebrity endorsement effect," has been studied extensively in the context of vaccine hesitancy and climate change denial. A 2022 study published in the journal *Public Understanding of Science* found that when a trusted celebrity expresses skepticism about a scientific consensus, it can shift public perception by several percentage points, particularly among younger audiences.
NASA's response was swift and factual. In a statement released Tuesday, a spokesperson said: "The United States landed humans on the Moon six times between 1969 and 1972. The evidence is irrefutable and has been confirmed by thousands of independent researchers, international space agencies, and even lunar reconnaissance orbiters that have photographed the Apollo landing sites from orbit. We welcome all questions about our missions and encourage everyone to visit our website or a local science museum to see the real Moon rocks and artifacts for themselves." The statement did not mention Maye by name but was clearly directed at the renewed public conversation.
**Analise**
The broader implications of this episode extend beyond a rookie quarterback's offhand remark. It underscores a growing challenge for scientific institutions in an era of fragmented media and declining trust in traditional authorities. According to a 2023 Gallup poll, only 68% of Americans believe the Moon landing definitely happened, down from 75% in 1999. While the vast majority still accept the historical record, the erosion of certainty is concerning to educators and science communicators. The rise of algorithm-driven social media platforms, which often reward sensational and controversial content over accurate information, has created an environment where conspiracy theories can thrive.
For the New England Patriots organization, the situation is delicate. The team has not issued an official statement, but sources close to the locker room indicate that Maye's teammates have been teasing him good-naturedly about the comments. Head coach Jerod Mayo, when asked about it at a press conference, smiled and said, "We're focused on the Jets this week. Drake's a smart kid. He'll figure it out." The incident is unlikely to have any lasting impact on Maye's career, but it serves as a reminder that in the age of instant virality, even a casual comment can spark a national conversation about science, evidence, and the importance of critical thinking.
**Fontes**
- 98.5 The Sports Hub, "Zolak & Bertrand" program, interview with Drake Maye, October 7, 2024. - NASA Public Affairs Office, official statement on Apollo Moon landing authenticity, October 8, 2024. - NASA.gov, "Moon Landing Hoax: The Real Story" webpage. - Gallup Poll, "Americans' Belief in Moon Landing," July 2023. - *Public Understanding of Science* journal, "Celebrity Skepticism and Scientific Consensus," Vol. 31, Issue 4, 2022.