
Gisele Bündchen's Sweet Father's Day Tribute to Joaquim Valente Draws Fire Over Tom Brady's Absence
Gisele Bündchen honored her husband Joaquim Valente and her father on Father's Day — but her omission of ex Tom Brady sparked a wave of mixed reactions online.
Gisele Bündchen is counting her blessings. The Brazilian supermodel and activist took to Instagram on Sunday, June 21, to mark Father's Day with a warm tribute honoring her husband Joaquim Valente and her father, Valdir Bündchen.

Gisele Bundchen attends the 2025 Franca Fund Gala at the Museum of Islamic Art on November 23 in Doha, Qatar. | Source: Getty Images
"Happy Father's Day @joaquimvalente!" Gisele wrote. "Thank you for leading by example, and for the values you embody, love, humility, integrity, discipline, kindness and consistency. You are an incredible role model. We are all so grateful for you, and we love you so much."
She then turned her attention to her father. "And dad, thank you for your unconditional love, wisdom, and support through every stage of my life," she continued. "Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there. ❤️."

Gisele Bündchen and her parents, Vania and ValdirBündchen, attend the "Taxi" film premiere, featuring a taxi cab drive-in, at the Jacob Javits Center October 3, 2004 in New York City. | Source: Getty Images
Gisele shares a one-year-old son with Joaquim, whom she welcomed in 2025. The 45-year-old is also mother to Benjamin, 16, and Vivian, 13, both of whom she shares with ex-husband Tom Brady.
Alongside the heartfelt message, Gisele posted a carousel of photos capturing tender family moments with Joaquim, their baby, and her older children. One image shows the couple standing barefoot on a sandy beach at sunset, both gazing down lovingly at their infant.

A photo from Gisele Bündchen's carousel, posted on June 21, 2026. | Source: Instagram/gisele
Another shot features Joaquim at the edge of a calm river or lake, his back to the camera as he cradles the baby against his chest. A third captures the jiu-jitsu instructor flat on his back on a blue mat, laughing freely as his young son — dressed in a matching white gi — clambers over him.
One particularly moving image shows Gisele, Joaquim, Benjamin, and Vivian wrapped together in a group hug on the floor. The carousel also included a childhood photo of her father, Valdir, perched on a red motorcycle and surrounded by a young Gisele and her siblings.

A photo from Gisele Bündchen's carousel, posted on June 21, 2026. | Source: Instagram/gisele
What the post did not include, however, was any mention of Brady — and that absence did not go unnoticed. Some followers were quick to call it out. "Don't forget the father of your other kids. He helped raise them too," one person wrote.
"I think you forgot a dad?" another remarked. A third added, "Whoa. Weird to celebrate a dude that's not your other kids dad in this. It's super weird to not celebrate the actual father of your other kids."

A photo from Gisele Bündchen's carousel, posted on June 21, 2026. | Source: Instagram/gisele
The criticism continued. "Wow posting your kid with the stepfather like it's his kid and not the actual Dad 👎," a fourth commenter said, while another weighed in, "Not wishing a man that gave you two children is actually kind of immature."
Not everyone agreed, though. Plenty of followers rallied behind Gisele, pushing back against the pile-on. "Guys it's not weird to not wish your ex a happy Father's Day. I sure as hell don't," one viewer said.

A photo from Gisele Bündchen's carousel, posted on June 21, 2026. | Source: Instagram/gisele
"She doesn't have to address her ex husband baby daddy if she doesn't want to [sic]," another added.
A third offered a more measured take, "I get it she wished Father's Day to the man she is married to. As my husband put it he's not my dad and you're not my mom. It's the kids place to wish them happy Father's Day [sic]."
Despite the pair's 2022 divorce, Gisele and Tom have largely maintained a civil co-parenting relationship. When Mother's Day rolled around last month, Brady made a point of honoring both Gisele and Bridget Moynahan — the mother of his eldest son, Jack, 18.
"Happy Mother's Day❤️❤️❤️," Brady wrote on his Instagram Stories, sharing a photo of Gisele kissing Jack as Bridget smiled alongside them. He also posted a second snap showing Gisele cuddled up in bed with Jack and the two children she shares with him.
