Penn State University police have decided not to pursue charges against retired Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce following an investigation into an altercation with a fan over a cellphone prior to the Nov. 2 Penn State-Ohio State home game. Jacqueline Sheader, a spokesperson for University Police and Public Safety, confirmed to the Associated Press on Tuesday that the case has been closed. The Philadelphia Inquirer was the first to report that no charges were filed against Kelce.
Sheader’s email also noted that the individual seen in a widely circulated video has not been identified, and no one has reported any damage to personal property. The police department’s initial report mentioned that an officer observed a visitor damaging property, while the viral video showed Kelce walking through a crowd near Beaver Stadium, where fans were requesting photos and fist bumps.
During this, one fan began to mock Kelce and seemed to shout an anti-gay slur about his brother, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, for dating pop star Taylor Swift.
The video also showed Kelce grabbing the fan’s phone and throwing it to the ground, then turning to confront the man, who was wearing Penn State clothing. During the confrontation, Kelce appeared to use the same anti-gay slur. Another fan stepped in between them before the situation could get worse.
Kelce later apologized before the ESPN Monday Night Football broadcast.
“In a heated moment, I decided to greet hate with hate,” Kelce said before the Buccaneers-Chiefs game. “I fell short this week.”
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