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Lamar Jackson was the star of the show in the Baltimore Ravens‘ 34-10 AFC Divisional Round victory over the Houston Texans.
But not far behind him was a Ravens fan who viewers thought eerily resembled civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.
Even King Jr.’s daughter Bernice was amazed by how much the fan resembled her father.
Hmm. 😂 https://t.co/PW8HFuk1Dl
— Be A King (@BerniceKing) January 21, 2024
But nobody seemed to know who the mysterious man was.
That is, until now.
Chris Korman of the Baltimore Banner put in the work to track down the fan.
As it turns out, his name is Wardell Roberts. And he was attending the game with his wife Karla and their son Karson.
Roberts told Korman “a few friends in college” told him that he resembled King. But he never thought much of it until the viral moment.
His son Karson, however, was amazed by the newfound fame of his father.
“He’s a little mad that nobody is recognizing him, but he was just learning about MLK this week so he thinks it’s the greatest thing ever,” Roberts said.
Roberts is an area native and has been a Ravens fan his entire life. But Karson was attending his first playoff game, and only attended his first ever Ravens game on New Years Eve against the Dolphins.
Now he has high expectations, his father says.
“He thinks the atmosphere is just always like this,” Roberts told Korman. “And it will be next week, so maybe he’s right.”
As for the moment of fame? Roberts says it’s one he’ll never forget.
“It didn’t stop,” he said. “Everybody started sending it. They’re all saying, ‘You’re trending right now.’ It was everywhere. Even Dr. King’s daughter [Bernice King] saw it and got a chuckle out of it.”
Roberts told Korman he doesn’t have tickets to the AFC Championship Game. But the new celebrity is hoping grab a few before Baltimore’s showdown with the Kansas City Chiefs.