Penn State University police have decided not to charge retired Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce after looking into an argument with a fan over a cell phone before a Nov. 2 home game between Penn State and Ohio State.
Jacqueline Sheader, a spokesperson for University Police and Public Safety, confirmed to the Associated Press on Tuesday night that the case has been closed. The Philadelphia Inquirer was the first to report that the investigation ended without charges against Kelce.
In her email, Sheader also mentioned that the person seen in a video that spread widely on social media has not been identified, and no one has come forward to report any damage to personal property.
The police department’s initial report included a note saying an officer saw a visitor damaging personal property. The viral video showed Kelce walking through a crowd near Beaver Stadium, where fans were asking for 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.”
