Influencer Peighton Tubre firmly denies viral affair rumors involving Garrett Nussmeier

8 November 2025

In an era when a single social-media post can ignite a full-blown controversy, influencer Peighton Tubre found herself facing exactly that: swirling rumors alleging she had an affair with college football quarterback Garrett Nussmeier. The story, entirely unfounded, forced her to take to Instagram on November 5 to set the record straight and reclaim her narrative.

Tubre is known for her engaging commentary on football and for the thousands of followers who tune in for her insights. But last week she became the subject of attention for a very different reason. The rumor began with a Facebook-posted article claiming that she and Nussmeier had been seen entering a hotel room together the night before one of his games. The post initially had minimal engagement just a few dozen likes so Tubre chose not to comment. She hoped the issue would fade away unnoticed. “I was just kind of hoping that it was going to go away and nobody was going to see it,” she said, visibly exasperated.

Instead, the story exploded across social media. Her messages flooded in. Family members were tagged. Strange questions arrived. Then another article appeared, declaring that Nussmeier had sent her unsolicited photos that made her uncomfortable and that she had posted those screenshots. None of this was true. Tubre paused the speculation by releasing a short but firm video: “If you follow me, you know that I didn’t post anything like that,” she said, adding, “It’s just fake. It’s all fake.”

The timing and context of the rumors added to the media storm. Garrett Nussmeier, who had recently announced his engagement to girlfriend Ella Springfield via Instagram in July, had no public comment on the matter, but the coincidence of his personal life being involved in the headlines made the story all the more salacious. For Tubre, the public accusation reached beyond her platform, it bled into her personal life. The influx of messages, some supportive, others accusatory, hurried her into public response.

She didn’t just issue a denial; she reclaimed the narrative in her own way. Following her initial Instagram video she posted a TikTok using a lip-sync audio of former LSU coach Brian Kelly saying, “We’re sitting here again again talking about the same things!” Overlaid text read, “When they post another fake article about me & Garrett Nussmeier.” It was a pointed moment of humour that also showed how she chose to respond: by acknowledging the absurdity of the spread and regaining control of her voice.

In the larger view, this episode highlights how quickly emotions, reputations and digital footprints become intertwined in influencer culture. Tubre’s story isn’t just about debunking a rumor; it’s about what happens when personal brand, public perception and viral misinformation collide. It speaks to the vulnerability of those who live publicly, and how fast a whisper on Facebook can turn into a global exchange of commentary.

For her audience, what matters may not just be the facts of who said what, but how one responds. Tubre’s choice to confront the rumours head-on rather than letting them linger reflects a growing shift in how influencers manage crises. She leaned into transparency, acknowledged her discomfort, and most importantly refused to let silence become acquiescence. In doing so she gave her followers and the broader public a view not only of the controversy, but of her own agency.

The unfolding narrative around Nussmeier and the rumors, though it involved him, centred heavily on online reaction and viral mechanics. The fact that the rumors tied into his engagement to Ella Springfield added layers, but public focus quickly shifted back to Tubre. That spotlight reveals one truth: in the age of influencer economy, sometimes the story isn’t just about the person listed in the headline, it’s about the machinery that creates headlines.

Whether the rumours will impact Tubre’s brand, her audience or her industry standing remains to be seen. For now, the acknowledgement of the situation and the clear denial mark an important step. She was swift, she was public and she was clear. In a media landscape crowded with half-truths and contrived narratives her response stands out for its directness.

What may linger most from this moment is what it says about the ecosystem of celebrity, influence and online conjecture. For Tubre, the rumours offered no value. Her response, however, could add to her credibility. Sometimes in life the real risk isn’t in what you might have done but in what you are forced to defend against.