Jason Kelce seems to be in the clear following last month’s headline-grabbing incident where he smashed a fan’s phone after being provoked with an anti-gay slur.
On Tuesday, Penn State University Police confirmed that no formal complaint has been filed regarding the incident, as reported by The Athletic. The statement clarified:
“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.”
The confrontation took place while Kelce was in town to appear on ESPN’s College GameDay ahead of the highly anticipated Penn State vs. Ohio State matchup, a clash between then-top five teams.
Kelce, followed by a group of fans, encountered a person who aimed their phone at him and taunted, “Kelce, how does it feel that your brother is a f* for dating Taylor Swift?” The jab referred to Kelce’s brother, Travis Kelce, and his high-profile relationship with pop superstar Taylor Swift.
In response, Jason Kelce grabbed the fan’s phone, smashed it on the ground, picked it up, and began to walk away. When the individual pursued him, asking for the phone back, Kelce turned and shot back, “Who’s the f**** now?” Video footage of the incident quickly spread across social media.
Kelce later addressed the situation during an appearance on ESPN two days after the incident. Offering a candid apology, Kelce expressed regret for his actions:
“I’m not happy with anything that took place. I’m not proud of it. 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 that 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.”
The incident reflects the increased attention Kelce has received in recent months. Between his role on ESPN’s Monday Night Countdown, his popular New Heights podcast with Travis Kelce, and his connection to his brother’s celebrity romance, Kelce’s public profile has grown far beyond the typical acclaim for Hall of Fame-caliber offensive linemen.
While fame often brings admiration, it also attracts negativity and trolls — like the one Kelce encountered that day at Penn State. For now, with no complaint filed and police confirming no further developments, it appears Jason Kelce can leave this incident behind.