Jason Kelce, the retired offensive lineman for the Philadelphia Eagles, recently found himself at the center of controversy after reacting to a fan’s homophobic slur about his brother, Travis Kelce, and Travis’s high-profile relationship with pop icon Taylor Swift.
The incident, which took place Saturday at Penn State where Jason was a guest analyst for ESPN’s "College GameDay," has drawn a mix of reactions, with many fans supporting Jason for standing up against the offensive remark, while others questioned whether the response was too extreme.
A Philadelphia-based podcast and YouTube host has now weighed in, suggesting that Jason Kelce might benefit from having higher security during such public appearances to prevent incidents from escalating.
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Jason Kelce Loses His Cool As He Smashes Bystander's Phone To The Ground
I love this.
Jason Kelce just took a stand for normal men against the “idiots who have become way too comfortable saying ridiculous shit to people who can actually kick their ass” crowd.
Good for him.
— Colin Dunlap (@colin_dunlap) November 2, 2024
In a video that quickly spread across social media, a fan can be heard shouting, “Hey Kelce! How does it feel your brother is a f-ggot for dating Taylor Swift?” The derogatory comment visibly angered Jason, who stopped, confronted the fan, and, in a heated response, took the fan’s phone and smashed it to the ground.
"Who's the f-ggot now?" Jason was heard yelling at the individual.
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Philadelphia-Based Podcast Host Weighs In On Jason Kelce Incident
The Philadelphia-based podcast argued that while Jason’s reaction may have been understandable given the nature of the comment, having security could help him navigate tense situations with fans and avoid altercations.
“Kelce has to realize that his profile is bigger than it ever was as a player,” Marks, a former sports radio host, wrote on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. “He’s making big $$$ across [multiple] platforms and his brother might marry the biggest pop star ever. He can’t be spiking people’s phones. He needs security to deal with this sh-t.”
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Social Media Reacts To The Jason Kelce Incident
Ever wonder what a Keyboard Warrior looks like in real life?
Jason Kelce said not today buddy ????????
EXAMPLE ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? pic.twitter.com/iBT7Q9BlwZ
— Krysta (@Krysta____) November 2, 2024
As the video continues to make waves online, some fans defend Jason’s actions, calling them a justified reaction to an unprovoked insult.
"Good for Jason," one X user said after seeing the video. "That guy is a loser."
"Kudos to Jason Kelce," another expressed. "He isn’t somebody u want to mess with, especially when you bad-mouthing his brother."
Others, including the Philly host, urge public figures like Jason to seek out ways to protect themselves without engaging directly, especially as the attention on the Kelce brothers and their high-profile lives only grows.
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Taylor Swift And Travis Kelce React To Jason Kelce's Phone-Smashing Incident
'Taylor and Travis were both really shocked by this, considering Jason is one of the nicest guys in the world," a source close to the couple told DailyMail. "It really became clear how much he loves and respects Taylor. Travis means the world to him."
"The use of the word f-ggot is not okay with him nor anyone," the source continued. "This fan crossed the line. Jason will never stand for anyone insulting his family, and he views Taylor as family now."
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Jason Kelce Remains Silent Following Controversial 'Game Day' Incident
Jason Kelce has shown strong public support for his brother Travis’s relationship with Taylor Swift, so it's no surprise that he stood up for them at the game, but some are questioning if he went too far--particularly because he used the gay slur back at the heckler.
The retired Philadelphia Eagles star has yet to comment on the viral incident, though he is set to appear on ESPN's broadcast team for the Kansas City Chiefs' game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday night.