And this week, one of its most viral highlights was what James Harden did at a wedding because, for a lot of people, the SLOW-MO came out on June The camera became more invasive than ever, zooming in on Harden’s girlfriend, Jessyka Janshel, who emerged with the bouquet, wide-eyed surprise momentarily encapsulating the essence of every NBA fan’s heart and funny bone.
This recent video has gone on to offer another glimpse of Harden perhaps never before witnessed on the court. Renowned for his ability to remain cool under pressure especially when it comes to crucial late-game free throws the Philadelphia 76ers star never went to full “game mode” until Janshel, the social media model, caught the bouquet. You gotta love his over the top gasp, and wide eyed shock: Gold comedic values right there!
James Harden’s girlfriend caught the bouquet at the wedding, and his reaction is priceless 😂
pic.twitter.com/rO2PhA5Ca2— Daily Loud (@DailyLoud) JUNE 9, 2024
A charming Madison Square Garden presence with more than 570,000 followers, Janshel is a familiar presence in the limelight. Having made her way from the halls of Chavez High School to Prairie View A&M University on to the global stage of modeling, she has bid farewell to higher education to focus on her career full-time. She has been Harden’s steady girlfriend since 2017, presenting a more subdued presence than his previous high-profile relationships with celebrities such as Khloe Kardashian and Amber Rose.
This incident from wedding though gave a small insight into their private world. The McLaughlin post showed a lighthearted, more relatable part of Harden that basketball fans don’t often get to see. The response by the public has been hugely positive, with fans pleased to see this more unlikely, light-hearted side. Not only did the video go viral, but it was singled out as humanizing the basketball star, a quality that made him much more likable.
It’s these candid moments that most enjoy seeing, as it makes us see that celebrities can be a little fun and go with the flow, too. This one shows the happiness and light-heartedness Janshel breathes into Harden’s world. The banter between the pair puts a light-hearted spin on a serious, competitive side often adopted by professional sportspeople.
At the end of it, it was one heartwarming moment that just put a smile on a ton of faces. A deserved temporary break from life’s literal hell wherein fans began to look at James Harden and ask, is it you they really like or is Jessyka Janshel? The snippets of celebrity life contribute to the larger public narrative, giving stars a human nature that serves as a link between fans and the star-studded. So, when Harden storms the court the next time and looks like a cross between the Archangel and an infernal machinator, remember there’s a Michael Jackson this side of the tall shadow and maybe, just maybe a future Mrs. Harden, waiting her turn with flowers in hand.
