Ravens' MLK Lookalike Addresses Viral Fame
Wardell Roberts never could've dreamed of the viral fame he'd attain while taking in Saturday's NFL postseason action.
Roberts, a fan of the AFC Championship game-bound Baltimore Ravens, became a social media sensation during the second half of his team's Divisional round victory over Houston, as fans playfully pointed out his resemblance to late civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr.
The image of the Frederick resident, clad in a Ravens Starter jacket, almost stoically taking in one of Lamar Jackson's four scores became one the most prominent screenshots of the Ravens' 34-10 win, which clinched their conference final ticket.
Identified in a profile from Chris Korman of The Baltimore Banner, Roberts attended Saturday's game with his wife Karla and son Karson. Unburdened with an X account, Roberts was unaware of his newfound celebrity until some fellow Ravens fans informed him of what had transpired on the Internet. The post even made it to King's youngest daughter Bernice, who agreed that Roberts "resemble(d) Daddy."
@FlockEnthusiast on X
“It didn’t stop,” Roberts recalled. “Everybody started sending it. They’re all saying, ‘You’re trending right now.’ It was everywhere ... (Karson) is 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 works as a security guard and volunteers as the John Harbaugh to local youth as a flag football coach, per Korman's report. He's been a longtime supporter of the Ravens and is currently in the process of passing on purple traditions to his son: Karson's first M&T Bank Stadium experience was the Week 17 win over Miami, which saw Jackson throw five touchdowns in a 56-19 shellacking that clinched both the AFC North title and the top seed in the conference.
Baltimore history, in fact, was on Roberts' mine when his image was captured on social media. Jackson had just found Isaiah Likely for a 15-yard score that put Baltimore ahead 24-10 at the onset of the fourth quarter.
Jackson's Saturday showcase was a fry cry from his first postseason experience, as Roberts previously witnessed the disastrous maiden voyage that saw the then-rookie lose two turnovers in a 23-17 Wild Card loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.
“I remember people were chanting for Joe Flacco,” Roberts said. “I was thinking about that Saturday. I always believed in Lamar. From day one I knew he could do it all. Obviously, he can run, but even some of my friends didn’t think he could throw the ball. I thought he just needed to be given the right system. Now he has it.”
Time will tell if Roberts makes it to the Ravens' latest championship landmark: Baltimore will host the AFC title game for the first time in franchise history on Sunday when the Kansas City Chiefs come to visit (3 p.m. ET, CBS).
