Penn State has reportedly closed its investigation into the incident involving Jason Kelce early last month.
The former NFL star was at the center of controversy after he grabbed a phone from a Nittany Lions fan, believed to be a student, and smashed it ahead of a game at Beaver Stadium on November 2.
The fan, who had been heckling Kelce, crossed the line with the ex-offensive lineman when he used a homophobic slur in reference to Travis Kelce, Jason’s younger brother.
Jason Kelce smashes a Penn State fan’s phone after he called Travis Kelce a slur.
Big Brother always looking out for lil bro 🔥 #FlyEaglesFly #ChiefsKingdom pic.twitter.com/wgr50jXwCA
— Locker (@PlayLockerLive) November 2, 2024
TMZ has reported that the ESPN analyst won’t be facing any charges, citing a spokesperson who told them the case is being closed as the fan in question did not come forward, nor was he identified.
“The individual in the video footage circulating on social media has not been identified, and no one has come forward to University Police with a related complaint about damage to personal property,” they told the outlet.
Jason Kelce Expressed Regret Over His Actions
The fan appeared to be incensed after Kelce smashed his phone; that he didn’t make a report comes as a surprise. Of course, it’s possible that they handled the matter privately.
Jason addressed the incident on ESPN’s ‘Monday Night Countdown’ after videos went viral, claiming he wasn’t proud of what he’d done and would be better.
Jason Kelce addressed the Penn State phone-smashing incident at the start of ESPN’s pregame show tonight and apologized:
“In a heated moment, I decided to greet hate with hate. … I fell short this week” pic.twitter.com/884LtqvFzX
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) November 4, 2024
“I’m not happy with anything that took place,” he said. “I’m not proud of it. And 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 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.”
ESPN has also decided not to punish the former center following the incident.
