The Detroit Lions fan accused of hurling racial slurs at Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf is denying the claims in an effort to clear his name.
Lions fan Ryan Kennedy held a press conference on Friday afternoon with his lawyers – denying claims that have spread on social media. The conference was plagued with tech issues as the speakers were muted.
Kennedy says his family was subject to death threats as a result of these rumors and that his business has been targeted with negative reviews.
Metcalf and Kennedy’s interaction during a game on Sunday led to the receiver being suspended two games after the 28-year-old star appeard to try and hit the fan.
‘Being falsely branded as a racist is one of the most damaging accusations that a private citizen can endure,’ Kennedy’s lawyer, Shawn Head, said as the fan sat beside him wearing a backwards Lions hat.
‘It’s dangerous and causes very real consequences and very real damage.’
Lions fan Ryan Kennedy denied using racial slurs in his altercation with DK Metcalf
The fan told the Free Press that he used Metcalf’s ‘government name’ which he ‘doesn’t like’ leading to the wide receiver appearing to take a swing at Kennedy
Kennedy added: ‘I want to be crystal clear about one thing — I didn’t use any racial slurs, no hate speech, none of that stuff at the game.’
Head told reporters that legal action is being considered.
Both Kennedy and his lawyers publicly asked Metcalf to clarify that the fan never said racial slurs – with Head saying attorneys reached out to Metcalf’s camp and hadn’t heard back.
‘The false accusations or racial statements or racial slurs being used causes real damage and that needs to be corrected. … (Metcalf) can come out and tell the truth and indicate that he never heard any racial slur uttered by Mr. Kennedy,’ Head said.
‘Right now we’re evaluating all of our options, of course, and we’re going to make sure we use any legal remedies available to protect Ryan Kennedy and his family.
‘We’re not going to litigate this in the media. We’re here, today, to set the record straight.’
Rumors of slurs being used against Metcalf spread when former NFL star Chad ‘Ochocinco’ Johnson said on his ‘Nightcap’ podcast that he ‘got word’ Kennedy used the ‘n-word’ and that the fan called Metcalf’s mother a ‘c**t’.
Video of the altercation didn’t clearly reveal what Kennedy said.
Kennedy’s lawyer Shawn Head (R) asked Metcalf to specify that his client didn’t use the ‘n-word’ or call the wide receiver’s mother the ‘c-word’
Rumors of that language being used spread, in part, thanks to a report from Chad Johnson
‘Ryan Kennedy did not use the n-word. Ryan Kennedy did not use the c-word, and he did not use any racial slurs whatsoever, at any time,’ Head said.
‘Those claims are absolutely false. They’re not supported by any audio or video recordings, they’re not supported by any eyewitness statements and they’re not supported by the investigation that was conducted by Ford Field personnel on the day of the incident’
Kennedy told the Detroit Free Press in the immediate aftermath of the incident that he repeatedly called Metcalf by his ‘government name’, which is what bothered the wideout. Head says Kennedy used Metcalf’s full first name to ask him to sign a jersey.
In the press conference, Kennedy once again used Metcalf’s full first name: ‘DeKaylin, if you’re watching this, man, just, if you could just say that [he didn’t use a racial slur] please, like, my family is getting threats and stuff and it’s not cool.
‘Whether you said that or not, I’m sure you didn’t want that to happen to the family. Even if you did, like, I forgive you, man.’
Earlier this week, reports revealed that Metcalf previously reported Kennedy’s behavior towards him last season when the receiver visited Ford Field as a member of the Seattle Seahawks.
Metcalf’s actions led to a two-game suspension. He will miss the rest of the regular season.
While Head acknowledged the complaint, he said he wasn’t aware if Metcalf specifically filed it.
Head also says the situation was investigated and that no conduct violation on Kennedy’s behalf had been found.
The suspension Metcalf is facing will void $45m in guaranteed money from his five-year, $150m contract he signed in Pittsburgh this year.
Metcalf has 59 catches for 860 yards and six touchdowns in 15 games this season.
