Dianna Russini has been seen publicly with her husband, Kevin Goldschmidt, and their two sons after months of attention around her photo controversy involving New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel.
Page Six reported that the former Athletic NFL reporter and her family spent part of Fourth of July weekend on Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas.
Us Weekly reported that the family was seen around the ship’s pool area, where an eyewitness described Russini and Goldschmidt as engaged with their children and affectionate with each other.
The Cruise Sighting Centered on Her Family
The new photos placed Russini, Goldschmidt and their children together in a vacation setting. The eyewitness account described Russini blowing a kiss to Goldschmidt from across the pool and dancing with one of her sons to Katy Perry’s “Firework.”
Page Six reported that the family appeared upbeat during the trip, which included stops in Florida and the Bahamas after departing from New Jersey.
Why the Appearance Drew Attention
Russini and Vrabel first drew headlines in April after Page Six published photos of them at an Arizona resort. Russini was covering the NFL while Vrabel was coaching the Patriots.
The Guardian reported that Russini resigned from The Athletic less than a week after the photos were published and after the New York Times-owned sports outlet began an internal investigation.
Russini said in her resignation statement that the public discussion had become “self-feeding speculation” that was not tied to the facts. She also said she stood behind every story she had published and did not want the episode to define her career.
Russini Has Rejected the Public Narrative
Russini has defended her work and pushed back against suggestions that the photos told the full story. The Guardian reported that Russini and Vrabel both described their relationship as platonic.
The Athletic’s leadership also acknowledged that the situation involved questions about standards and coverage. Fox News reported that executive editor Steven Ginsberg told staff the publication would continue a standards review after Russini resigned.
Vrabel Has Also Returned to Public View
The cruise report arrived the same holiday weekend that Vrabel and his wife, Jen Vrabel, were seen together in New York City.
Us Weekly reported that Mike and Jen were photographed leaving a hotel on the way to Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding at Madison Square Garden. PEOPLE also reported that the wedding appearance marked the couple’s first public sighting since the Russini photo fallout.
The Guardian reported in April that Vrabel had said he had difficult conversations with his family after the photos became public. He also said he would miss part of the NFL draft to undergo counseling.
