Bills fans donate $100K to cat shelter with kicker ties
Bills Mafia rallied around Tyler Bass by donating $100,000 to a local cat shelter after the Buffalo Bills kicker deactivated his social media accounts. Bass’s online presence disappeared after he missed a potential game-tying field goal in the team’s 27-24 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the divisional round of the NFL playoffs on Sunday.
Fans on X noticed that Bass’ account, @tbass_xvi, was deactivated after the game. At the time of publication on Monday, the page said, “This account doesn’t exist.”
The kicker’s Instagram account with the same username also was deactivated.
Both accounts were still down as of Tuesday afternoon.
Bills Mafia, the name of Buffalo’s die-hard fan base, started donating to local nonprofit Ten Lives Club to show support to Bass after he reportedly received online hate. A representative for Ten Lives Club told USA TODAY Sports via Instagram direct message that 646 people have donated for a total of $14,760 as of Monday night. By Tuesday morning, the tally was “definitely more than $50,000 and climbing.”
The kicker is a brand ambassador for the organization, which is a no-kill cat rescue and shelter. Fans were donating amounts of $22 to commemorate Bass’s No. 2 jersey.
“WE STAND WITH TYLER BASS. DON’T BULLY OUR FRIEND,” Ten Lives Club said in an Instagram post with a promotional photo of Bass holding a cat. “We just heard the terrible news that Tyler Bass is receiving threats after yesterday’s game and our phones are ringing off the hook from people who want to donate $22 to Ten Lives Club in Tyler’s name.
“Tyler doesn’t deserve any of the hate he’s receiving. He’s an excellent football player and an even better person who took the time to help our organization and rescue cats last year. Leave our friend alone.”