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Gucci recently announced that Tom Brady will be in a new print ad campaign for creative director Demna’s Fall/Winter 2026 collection, along with model Alex Consani, rapper EsDeeKid (who I’m pretty sure is just Timothée Chalamet with a British accent), and singer Shawn Mendes. People online have had a field day making fun of Brady’s leather pants.
Today, the clothing item himself, Leather Pants, joins The Wilder Things for an exclusive.
Charlotte Wilder: Mr. Pants, first of all, I want to thank you for sitting down with me today. I know a lot of outlets have been reaching out, and I’m grateful you decided to go on the record with The Wilder Things.
Leather Pants: No problem. I hear you’ve been on the Tom Brady beat for a while now, and my team and I really wanted to go with someone who knew the ins and outs of Tom’s history online.
CW: For sure, yeah. I started tracking him twelve years ago when he first joined Facebook and have been following his trajectory online ever since — we also talk about him often on The Sports Gossip Show. My favorite era of Tom’s was when he was posting those trippy cartoons, but that’s not what we’re here to talk about.
LP: You know, some of his gear from the Patriots actually told us about those early days on Instagram.
CW: You talk to his other clothes?
LP: Oh yeah, we’re always chatting. The closet comes alive once he closes the door. You’d think he’d keep most of his football stuff in storage, but he actually has most of it really accessible. It’s like he’s ready to go back into the league at a moment’s notice. A few of his Under Armour Quick Dry shirts from New England live in a drawer near where I hang out most of the time. It’s helpful to hear about his history. It gave me a lot of context for what I’ve gone through the past few months.
“I just don’t appreciate being lumped into this greater narrative around Tom’s online crashout. I don’t know why I have had to bear so much of the brunt for him.”
CW: That’s what I’m interested in — what has this year been like for you?
LP: I mean, I was thrust into the spotlight. I come from a long line of high fashion Leather Pants. My dad worked with Jared Leto, my mom was in the Aaliyah “Try Again” music video. My grandfather and grandmother met in Mick Jagger’s closet, and my great-grandfather was really close with Elvis. I’ve never talked about this publicly, but my sister tragically died on tour with Harry Styles three years ago. She split right in half when Harry lunged. Everyone thought it was super funny, and I’m like, a life was lost. Please show some respect.
CW: I’m so sorry, how awful for you and your family.
LP: Yeah, thanks. I also think that history of ridicule is why I got freaked out after I walked with Tom in the Gucci show in Times Square in May. I was so young. Demna tailored me for Tom and it was my first runway. I thought we crushed it together, and I was thrilled to be on such a huge stage. My parents always told me I was outstanding, and that day I felt like I really proved it to myself.
CW: That must’ve been really exciting.
LP: But then I saw how many people were making fun of him online for his leather pants and it just felt like a punch right to the fly. They were talking about me.
CW: How did you see the response? Does the Pants community have iPhones?
LP: No, we don’t. Can’t use them because we don’t have thumbs. But one of Tom’s necklaces told me. She was around his neck as he was looking at his phone.
CW: What did you think of the recent response to the Gucci print ad?
LP: Honestly, that’s what put me over the edge and made me decide to talk to the press. I need to own my narrative, and if it means Tom gets rid of me, so be it. I’d rather have my integrity than a place in his closet.
CW: What do you mean?
LP: You saw his answers in that GQ interview. He literally said, “Damn, [they’re] actually really comfortable.” To say actually, like he was shocked. It rubbed me the wrong way. And then he called me “a different look” and said, “there was a rigidity and a structure to it, like my football uniform.” He compared me to athletic wear. It’s unconscionable.
CW: Not to defend Tom, but I think he meant that as a compliment. He really loved his football uniform.
LP: Sure, whatever. I just don’t appreciate being lumped into this greater narrative around Tom’s online crashout. He dated Alix Earle, who is like, a thousand years younger than he is, he’s been posting weird quotes. He’s clearly going through it after his divorce, I get that. But, like, I don’t know why I have had to bear so much of the brunt for him. I’m a clothing item, you know? Leave me out of it.
CW: I totally get how all of this must feel like a real kick in the pants.
LP: That’s actually a really offensive saying in my culture.
CW: Oh, I’m so sorry, I —
Ed note: Leather Pants left the Zoom call abruptly and didn’t respond to further requests for comment.
Charlotte, this is incredible. Laughed out loud, by myself last night reading it before bed.
Legendary content