found out my team has a group chat about me.

One of my direct reports left their phone on the conference table after a meeting. I wasn't snooping but the screen lit up with a notification and I saw the group chat name. It was my first name + a clown emoji.

I didn't read any messages. Put the phone face down and didn't say anything when they came back for it.

But now I can't stop thinking about it. I have 6 direct reports and I've been managing this team for about a year and a half. I thought things were going fine. We hit targets last quarter. I do 1:1s every two weeks and I've pushed for raises when I could. Nobody has brought anything to me.

I keep telling myself every team vents about their boss. But a clown emoji is pretty specific.

Do I bring it up or just pretend I never saw it?