‘Birdlady’, the Atlanta Falcons superfan Carolyn Freeman, has been indicted after allegedly stealing nearly $15,000 as part of a bogus tailgate scam.
The 65-year-old is accused of taking $14,155 from members of a Kansas City Chiefs fan club after ‘promising performance of services… to cater and provide a tailgate party event, which said accused did not intend to perform,’ according to the indictment.
Freeman was honored as an NFL ‘Super Fan’ in 2016 and she was reportedly featured on a billboard at Mercedes-Benz Stadium this season. But she has now been charged with one count of theft by deception and is due in court in April, according to Atlanta News First.
The authorities are facing calls to jail Freeman, with one Chiefs fan accusing her of showing ‘repetitive intent to defraud’.
‘Birdlady’ has been under the spotlight for several months, after reports first emerged about alleged sham tailgates and Super Bowl trips.
She was detained by Atlanta police last November, at the Falcons’ game against the Cowboys.
Falcons fan Carolyn Freeman is accused of stealing nearly $15,000 as part of a tailgate scam
She was detained by Atlanta police last November, at the Falcons’ game against the Cowboys
The accusations revolve around fan groups of the Seattle Seahawks – in 2017 – and the Kansas City Chiefs in 2024.
An arrest warrant, issued on October 30 2024, reportedly claims that Freeman collected $14,000 from around 300 fans for a party when the Chiefs and Falcons met in Atlanta the previous month.
But she is accused of not showing up and not returning the money. The fan groups also allege that Freeman said some of the funds would go to her charity ‘Birdlady Cares Inc’, which is said to help children affected by abuse, violence and bullying.
Chiefs fans went to the cops, reportedly claiming that Freeman repeatedly told them she was en route but running late because she went to the hospital and had a run-in with cops.
According to Atlanta News First, the 65-year-old insisted she did belatedly host the tailgates.
‘I want her to be stopped,’ Chiefs fan Tammy Southwood told Atlanta News First. ‘I am glad the DA recognizes the severity of her actions,’ she added, insisting Freeman should pay them back and go to jail. ‘No slaps on the wrist.’
