Christie responds to backlash

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie defended his longtime love for the Dallas Cowboys on Monday after his cheering for the team sparked a social media firestorm.

Christie was spotted high-fiving Cowboys owner Jerry Jones in a luxury box Sunday night at the Cowboys-Philadelphia Eaglesgame.

The interactions prompted a wave of hate on Twitter from angry Eagles fans, who apparently were unaware the governor has long been a Cowboys fan despite his New Jersey roots.

Christie responded to the meltdown Monday morning with an unscheduled appearance on WPG Talk Radio 1450.

He told listeners he's never made a secret of his Cowboys fandom and said he would never change his team loyalties to score political points.

"I love passionate sports fans. I really do. I'm a passionate sports fan. And so I can't say that I was the least bit surprised by the reaction of some Eagles fans," he said.

"I don't react in that way, but I'm an enthusiastic Dallas Cowboys fan. I've never made a secret of it from the time I entered public life."

He also took to Twitter to respond to some of the kinder commenters.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.