“It’s a phobia”: Connor McDavid opens up about unusual ketchup phobia and how childhood shaped the fear | NHL News
Connor McDavid does not spend much time worrying about what fans think of him. He worries about winning. Yet a small, unexpected detail from his private life has pulled the Edmonton Oilers captain into a very human spotlight. Connor McDavid recently acknowledged a quirky fear that sounds harmless but feels very real to him. It is not about pressure moments or playoff heartbreak. It is about a simple red condiment that most people barely notice.Away from the rink, McDavid is calm, reserved, and focused on routine. That routine, however, has always excluded ketchup. The topic surfaced after his wife, Lauren Kyle, casually mentioned it on a podcast. What followed was a rare glimpse into how even hockey’s most dominant figure carries childhood habits that never quite faded.
Connor McDavid opens up about a childhood fear that stuck
Connor McDavid finally addressed the story himself during a candid appearance on Sportsnet After Hours, confirming the fear is not exaggerated. He traced it back to early years, pointing toward family influence rather than a single moment.“Honestly, you know, it stems from childhood,” McDavid said. “My brother’s the same way. Not sure where it came from. I’m gonna blame it on him. He’s worse than I am. Yeah, I learned off him, so take it up with him.”The explanation did little to solve the mystery, but it added context. This is not a joke or a publicity bit. McDavid admits he has never tasted ketchup and avoids the bottle entirely. His wife previously detailed how even moving it across the kitchen is out of bounds.“He’s never even tried it, to be honest,” Kyle said. “If I’m having it with a meal, I have to get it from the fridge; he will not put it back in the fridge or touch the bottle. It has to be at the other end. … He does think it’s funny, but he’s still afraid of ketchup; he just won’t have it.”McDavid agrees the reaction fits the definition of a phobia.“I don’t know what it is,” McDavid said. “The texture, it’s the look of it, it’s everything — yeah, I think it’s a phobia, yeah.”The confession landed lightly with fans because it contrasts sharply with his on-ice dominance. McDavid leads the NHL with 69 points in 40 games, including 24 goals and 45 assists. His play anchors the league’s most dangerous power play and has the Oilers sitting atop the Pacific Division alongside Leon Draisaitl.Married to Kyle since July 2024, McDavid appears comfortable laughing at himself. The ketchup may stay far away, but authenticity, like his talent, is always on display.Also Read: Was Connor McDavid speaking directly to Maple Leafs fans with his latest statement? The timing feels impossible to ignore
