Pennsylvania State University police are investigating an altercation between retired Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce and a fan, in which the former NFL player allegedly snatched a fan’s cell phone.
The incident occurred the weekend before the game between the Penn State Nittany Lions and Ohio State, and has generated controversy on social media after a video of the altercation was released.
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The altercation, according to the Penn State Police Department report, occurred on Saturday, when an officer observed a “visitor” apparently damaging another fan’s personal item. Although the report did not explicitly mention Kelce’s name, the university’s public information officer, Jacqueline Sheader, confirmed that the incident involved the former NFL player and that the investigation process is ongoing.
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Possible crimes mentioned in the report include vandalism and disorderly conduct, although it has not been specified whether official charges will be filed in connection with the incident.
The controversy broke out after a video of the altercation went viral on social media. In it, Jason Kelce can be seen walking through a crowd near Beaver Stadium as Penn State fans ask him for photos and greetings.
According to the video, a fan began mocking Kelce and at one point appeared to hurl a homophobic slur at him related to his brother, Travis Kelce, the Kansas City Chiefs tight end and boyfriend of pop star Taylor Swift. Kelce quickly responds and grabs the fan’s phone and throws it to the ground. The video shows him turning around to face the man, who was dressed in Penn State gear, and appearing to use the same type of homophobic slur in his response.
