Penn State’s police department is facing challenges in its investigation into the recent incident involving Jason Kelce. The former NFL lineman, who won a Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles and now works as an analyst for ESPN, found himself in a heated altercation with a Penn State fan outside Beaver Stadium last weekend.
The incident occurred when Kelce, 37, was taunted by an obnoxious fan who brought up his brother Travis Kelce’s relationship with Taylor Swift. The fan took it further by using a homophobic slur to refer to Travis and provocatively asked Jason how he felt about it. Reacting to the offensive comments, Jason grabbed the fan’s phone, smashed it on the ground, and shouted back.
“Who’s the (expletive) now?” Jason could be heard yelling, as tensions flared.
Jason Kelce has since apologized for his actions, expressing regret over the way he handled the situation. However, the police investigation is still ongoing, with the Penn State police department encountering some significant obstacles—primarily in identifying the fan involved in the altercation.
Penn State police have not been able to identify the man who taunted Jason Kelce and used the homophobic slur. Despite the incident being well-publicized, with video evidence circulating on social media, the individual in question has yet to come forward, and no one has filed a complaint regarding the damaged phone.
According to a report from TMZ Sports on Thursday, a spokesperson for the university police department stated, “They do not know the identity of the guy, and no one has come forward to make a complaint over their personal property (smashed phone) being damaged.” This has made it difficult for authorities to move forward with the investigation. It’s possible that the fan in question is trying to avoid being found or identified, likely because his own actions in taunting Kelce and using a slur painted him in a very negative light.
RELATED: Taylor Swift’s Reaction Revealed After Jason Kelce Slams Fan’s Phone Over Offensive Comment
Meanwhile, Travis Kelce has stood by his brother’s side throughout the ordeal. On the Wednesday, November 6 episode of their “New Heights” podcast, Travis addressed the incident, defending Jason’s response.
“The real situation is that you had some f—— clown come up to you and talk about your family,” Travis said. “You reacted in a way that was defending your family, and you might have used some words that you regret using.”
Jason, reflecting on the incident, expressed regret not only for his actions but also for repeating the slur that the fan had used. He acknowledged that it was a mistake to stoop to the same level.
“The thing that I regret the most is saying that word, to be honest with you. The word he used is just f—–g ridiculous, and it takes it to another level. It’s just off the wall and f—–g over the line. It’s dehumanizing and got under my skin,” Jason said on the podcast. “It elicited a reaction, and in the heat of the moment, I thought in my head, ‘Hey, what can I say back to him? I’m going to throw this s— right back in his face because f— him.’ I know now I shouldn’t have done that because there’s now a video out there of me saying that word, him saying that word, and it’s not good for anybody.”
Jason Kelce’s candid reflection on the incident shows a willingness to admit his mistakes, particularly when it comes to the language he used. He has made it clear that, in retrospect, he wishes he had handled things differently, emphasizing that using the same offensive language as the fan was not the right approach.
Despite the public nature of the altercation, ESPN has decided not to discipline Kelce for the incident. However, the possibility of legal repercussions remains, as Penn State police continue their investigation into what happened.
As of Thursday afternoon, no charges had been filed, and the fan involved in the altercation had yet to be identified.
The incident has left Jason Kelce reflecting on how quickly emotions can escalate in a heated situation, and how important it is to maintain composure, even in the face of provocation.
While Kelce has expressed regret, the story serves as a reminder of the challenges public figures face when dealing with aggressive and confrontational fans.
For now, the investigation remains open, and Jason Kelce has vowed to learn from the incident and move forward in a more positive direction.
