Novak Djokovic, the Serbian tennis star and 24-time Grand Slam champion, has found himself at the center of a controversy after a journalist criticized him for comments made by one of his superfans, Pavvy G, regarding world number one Jannik Sinner.

While Djokovic boasts a vast global following, certain superfans stand out, often attracting more attention than others. This time, Pavvy G, a prominent Djokovic supporter, stirred up trouble with a tweet about Sinner’s commitment to professional events following the recent death of his aunt.

Pavvy G tweeted, “When his aunt was so ill and has now unfortunately passed away, he didn’t miss a single event for Gucci or the Olympics promotion in the last week and is now in Beijing. A sad loss for him and his family, but sometimes missing sponsor obligations is important when family is involved?”

The tweet was met with widespread backlash, including from renowned sports journalist Jon Wertheim, who joined the criticism and raised a broader question: should athletes like Djokovic be held accountable for the controversial statements made by their most vocal fans?

“This is a legit question, not limited to tennis… what level of responsibility – if any – do today’s athletes bear with regards to their more prominent/vocal/offensive fans? Would a public repudiation of this kind of behavior do any good?” Wertheim tweeted.

Despite Wertheim’s concerns, many Djokovic fans were quick to defend him, arguing that the tennis legend cannot be held responsible for what his fans say on social media. They pointed out that Djokovic has no control over the actions or words of his supporters.

It’s worth noting that Pavvy G had previously received recognition from Djokovic during this year’s Wimbledon tournament, where the tennis star expressed appreciation for his devoted fans. “These are people who are very important in my life, who follow me. For example, Julie, Pavvy, I don’t know how many have been following me for 15 years,” Djokovic said at the time.

While superfans are known to passionately support their favorite athletes, the consensus among many is that players should not be held liable for their fans’ statements. Despite the controversy, Djokovic has remained silent on the matter, and his loyal fanbase continues to stand by him.

This incident raises broader questions about the responsibility athletes have, if any, over the actions of their most ardent supporters in today’s hyperconnected social media age.