Penn State University police have decided not to file charges against retired Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce following an investigation into an altercation with a fan over a cellphone prior to the Nittany Lions’ home game against Ohio State on November 2.
Jacqueline Sheader, a public information officer for University Police and Public Safety, confirmed in an email to the Associated Press on Tuesday that the case has been closed. The Philadelphia Inquirer first reported that no charges would be brought against Kelce.
Sheader noted that the individual featured in a viral video has not been identified, and no complaints regarding damage to personal property have been filed with police. An initial entry in the police department’s incident log mentioned an officer witnessing a visitor damaging personal property.
Footage circulating on social media captured Kelce navigating through a crowd near Beaver Stadium, where fans were requesting photos and fist bumps. During this interaction, one fan began heckling Kelce, allegedly using an anti-gay slur related to his brother, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, who is dating pop star Taylor Swift. The video showed Kelce grabbing the fan’s phone and throwing it to the ground before confronting the individual, who was dressed in Penn State attire. During this exchange, Kelce appeared to use the same anti-gay slur before another fan intervened to prevent the situation from escalating.
Following the incident, Kelce issued an apology during the pregame show for ESPN’s Monday Night Football. “In a heated moment, I decided to greet hate with hate,” he said before the broadcast of the Buccaneers-Chiefs game. “I fell short this week.”
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