Jason Kelce, currently a commentator on ESPN’s “Monday Night Countdown,” will not be punished by the network for his recent phone-smashing altercation where he used a homophobic slur.
Mr. Kelce, a former Philadelphia Eagles center, is the older brother of Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, who is dating pop superstar Taylor Swift. Before the Pennsylvania State Nittany Lions took on the Ohio State Buckeyes Saturday, a fan taunted Jason Kelce about his brother’s relationship, using a homophobic slur to describe Travis Kelce.
Jason Kelce then smacked the phone out of the fan’s hands and, when asked by the unidentified fan to return the phone, taunted back rhetorically “Who’s the f— now?”
ESPN will not punish him for the incident, according to Front Office Sports website. Jason Kelce has apologized for his response to the incident.
On Monday before the game between the visiting Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Chiefs, he said on-air, “In a heated moment, I chose to greet hate with hate, and I don’t think that’s a productive thing. I really don’t. … In that moment, I fell down to a level that I shouldn’t have.”
On Wednesday, at the start of the latest episode of the “New Heights” podcast he co-hosts with his younger brother, Jason Kelce added, “Me reacting gave him the time of day, and it also gave this situation notoriety. That’s what I regret. … The thing that I regret most is saying that word.”
University police continue to investigate the incident.
• Brad Matthews can be reached at bmatthews@washingtontimes.com.
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