NFL star Jason Kelce has issued an apology after going viral for using an anti-gay slur.
On 2 November, the former Philadelphia Eagles player made headlines after videos of him clashing with a heckler spread like wildfire on social media.
At the clip’s start, a man is heard shouting, “Kelce, how does it feel that your brother is a f****t for dating Taylor Swift?”
In response, Jason grabbed the individual’s phone, slamming it on the ground, before later exclaiming, “Who’s the f****t now.”
A few days after the video went viral, Jason addressed the controversy while appearing on Monday Night Countdown – apologising for using the word and “greeting hate with hate.”
“Listen, I’m not happy with anything that took place. I’m not proud of it,” he explained.
“In a heated moment, I chose to greet hate with hate, and I just don’t think that’s a productive thing, I really don’t. I don’t think that it leads to discourse, and it’s the right way to go about things. In that moment, I fell down to a level that I shouldn’t have.”
In addition to Monday Night Countdown, Jason expressed further remorse over the situation while speaking to Travis on their New Heights podcast.
“Me reacting gave him the time of day, and it also gave the situation notoriety. That’s what I regret. It didn’t deserve attention; it’s really stupid, and if I just kept walking, it’s a nothingburger. Now, it’s out there, and it just perpetuates more hate,” he explained.
“Kelce how does it feel that your brother is a f****t for dating Taylor Swift?”
Jason Kelce proceeded to slam this kids phone on the ground.
Looked like a Penn State student was getting in Kelce’s face for no reason. Wild scene in State College pic.twitter.com/3PEdZXWhSg
— Chives (@jarrett_daveler) November 2, 2024
He went on to say that his biggest regret was repeating the f-slur in response to the individual’s harassment.
“The word he used, it’s just f***ing ridiculous, and it takes it to another level. It’s just so off the wall, f***ing overline,” he continued.
“The word he used it’s just… dehumanising, and it got under my skin. It elicited a reaction. In the heat of the moment, I thought, ‘Hey, what can I say back to him? I’m going to throw that s**t right back in his face.
“I think that what I do regret is that now there’s a video that is very hateful that is now online, that has been seen by millions of people and I share fault in perpetuating it and having that out there.”
In response to his brother’s statement, Travis offered support, applauding him for owning up to the situation.
“You reacted in a way that was defending your family. And you might have used some words that you regret using. And that’s a situation that where you just kinda have to learn from and own,” the Kansas City Chiefs tight end said.
“And I think you owning it and you speaking about it shows how sincere you are to a lot of people in this world. And it shows that you… don’t choose hate. That’s just not who you are.”
Check out Jason’s full New Heights statement here or below.
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