Tebow’s recent breakup creates divide over chaste lifestyle

Former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow’s chaste lifestyle has been under the spotlight in recent days.

That’s because reports this past weekend said that Tebow’s former girlfriend, Miss Universe Olivia Culpo, allegedly ended their relationship “due to his virginity vow,” according to US Weekly.

Tebow, a devout Christian, and Culpo had a very fun and loving relationship, US Weekly reported, with Tebow sending his girlfriend love letters and notes about his love for her. But Culpo couldn’t get over the chastity hurdle in the relationship.

“He was sending her love letters and cute notes and professing his love for her,” an insider told New York Daily News. “She had to break up with him because she just couldn't handle it. He still hits her up, but she just can't deal with the sex thing. He's pretty adamant about it.”

Sports media outlets mocked Tebow over the breakup, with headlines such as “Tim Tebow still can’t find the end zone as girlfriend Olivia Culpo breaks it off over lack of sex” from the New York Daily News and article ledes like “Apparently an NFL job isn’t the only thing Tim Tebow can’t hold onto” from CBS.

Some have rushed to Tebow’s side, though, embracing him for his choice to stay abstinent. Political pundit Glenn Beck is one of his supporters, saying in a Facebook post that he hopes Tebow continues to practice abstinence.

Beck wrote on Facebook, “30 years ago it would have been the guy breaking it off and everyone would have cheered for the woman. Now she breaks it off and everyone mocks the guy. Good for you Tim! The right girl will be worth the wait and this will only help you find the right girl.”

This isn’t the first time Tebow’s virginity and chaste lifestyle has caught some media attention. Back in August 2015, New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski, when he was asked about his own sex life, joked he was a virgin like Tebow, according to Sporting News.

Sports World News also ran a story in October that said Tebow was going to be the true-life 40-year-old virgin, a joke that alludes to the R-rated comedy film from 2005, “The 40-Year-Old Virgin."

But Tebow is far from the only NFL star to live a chaste lifestyle. As I wrote back in July, Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson announced that he and his girlfriend, the singer Ciara, were going to “do it Jesus’ way” and live a life of celibacy until they tie the knot.

Wilson said he received a message from God before deciding to live a chaste life.

“I know that he’s calling for us to do something miraculous, something special," Russell said in an interview in July. "And I told her — and she completely agreed — is the fact that, ‘Can we love each other without that?’ If you can really love somebody without that, then you can really love somebody.”

Similarly, back in 2013, NFL cornerback Prince Amukamara confessed that he was also living a chaste life, according to Sporting News.

Amukamara, who grew up in a Catholic household, has been called the “black Tim Tebow” by fans, teammates and sports media alike for his decision to avoid sex and alcohol, Sporting News reported.

“I grew up Catholic, so it just started out as one of those things. I’d think, ‘If I do this, maybe I can go to heaven,’ so I said no drinks, no sex, all the big things,” he told Muscle and Fitness magazine. “As I grew up, I realized that’s not what it’s about. It’s about having a relationship with Jesus. It’s not about, ‘Don’t do this. Don’t do that.’ But still, it’s just one of those things I haven’t done, and I don’t see any benefit to doing it. You’re always reading about people getting DUIs. So many bad things that happen and wind up in the paper are alcohol-related, so by not drinking, it saves me, my team and my family a lot of trouble.”

And about being a virgin?

“Yeah, I am a virgin,” Amukamara said in the interview. “I’m not ashamed to say that.”

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