Jason Kelce, the ex-center for Philadelphia Eagles and now TV analyst, was recently caught in an online storm after being filmed during a public disagreement with a fan. The incident began when the fan hurled an unsavory slur against Jason’s brother Travis, in reference to his relationship with renowned music artist Taylor Swift. Consequently, Jason responded to the provocation in a relatively aggressive fashion, which involved seizing the heckler’s cell phone and shattering it on the ground.
Up to that point, Kelce had refrained from publicly discussing the matter. However, during his segment on ESPN’s Monday Night Countdown pre-show before the match between Travis’ team, the Kansas City Chiefs and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he finally opened up about the event and his reactions thereafter.
At the onset of the show, Jason stated his sentiments concerning the cell phone episode and expressed remorse, despite abstaining from proffering an explicit apology. He began by acknowledging the incident and its wide coverage on social media platforms.
Kelce confessed he was dissatisfied with the series of events and felt regretful. ‘I allowed hate to provoke me into an equally hateful response, and I now realize that such actions are not constructive or beneficial,’ he stated during the live telecast.
The incident led him ‘to stoop to a place I should not have descended to,’ Kelce added, reiterating that such invective does not pave the way for meaningful conversations or appropriate conduct. He conveyed his intent to adhere to the notion of the ‘Golden Rule’ despite the recent fall.
He expressed his intention to continue his life based on his firmly held belief in the teaching of the ‘Golden Rule’, and his default approach towards others, which is to treat them with respect and dignity. He admitted he fell short of these principles in his recent actions.
Prior to this incident, Jason was at University Park, Pennsylvania, where he had been scheduled to appear on ESPN’s College Gameday show. However, things took an unexpected turn when he found himself in an altercation at Beaver Stadium, home of the Penn State Nittany Lions.
While he was transporting a crate of beer on foot around the stadium, a group of students and fans recognized him and attempted to attract his attention with shouts and cheers. However, one fan escalated the situation by passing a derogatory comment about Travis’s romantic relationship with Swift.
One particular person crossed the line by shouting, ‘Kelce, how does it feel that your brother is a (slur) for dating Taylor Swift?’. Jason promptly identified the source of the insult – a man who was attempting to document the incident on his phone.
Taken aback by such offensive comments, Jason snatched the fan’s phone and threw it onto the ground, leaving it in pieces. He then collected the ruined device and continued to walk away, ignoring the fan who by now was demanding his phone back. Spectators who witnessed the incident were left in a state of shock.
According to the New York Post, the episode involving Jason Kelce and the fan, whose identity remains unknown, is currently under scrutiny by the Penn State Police and Public Safety. A university spokesperson confirmed that the investigation is in progress.
The University’s daily crime log for that specific day details an incident of ‘a visitor causing damage to personal property’ at Curtin Road and Commuter Drive, located outside Beaver Stadium. The possible charges recorded in the log suggest potential offences of criminal mischief and disorderly conduct.