Jason Kelce issued an apology at the outset of ESPN's "Monday Night Countdown" for a viral video of him smashing a fan's phone at Penn State after the heckler used a homophobic slur when referring to his brother Travis' relationship with Taylor Swift. Jason also used the slur back at the heckler.
There was some thought that Kelce was forced by ESPN to issue what was a relatively vague apology. But in the latest episode of his "New Heights" podcast with Travis, he drilled down on what he really regrets about the exchange.
"I'm not happy about the situation," Jason reiterated. "Me reacting gave him the time of day. And it also gave this situation notoriety. That's what I regret. It didn't deserve attention. And if I just keep walking, it's a fucking nothingburger. Nobody sees it. Now, it's out there, and it just perpetuates more hate.
"The thing that I regret the most is saying that word, to be honest with you," Jason added. "The word he used is just fucking ridiculous. And it takes it to another level. It's just off-the-wall and fucking over the line. And it's dehumanizing and it got under my skin. And it elicited a reaction."
Can’t blame Jason Kelce here… what a loser pic.twitter.com/KTnCA4WjZI
Lawsuit gonna be worth every penny pic.twitter.com/6IzgS6F6lt
🚨Another angle
"Who's the fagh0th NOW" 😭 pic.twitter.com/hHlCMfDSKj
Jason was largely defended for smashing the phone of the heckler, though there was some pushback to him using the homphobic slur back at the fan. He explained his thought process in doing so, and why he now regrets it.
"And in the heat of the moment, I thought in my head 'Hey, what can I say back to him? I'm gonna throw that shit right back in his face, because fuck him.' I know now that I shouldn't have done that, because now there's a video out there with me saying that word, him saying that word and it's not good for anybody.
"I think what I do regret is that now there's a video that is very hateful, that is now online that has been seen by millions of people. And I share fault in perpetuating it and having that out there."
Travis — who was insulted by the fan to start the whole situation — then jumped in.
"I know it's weighing on your brother," Travis said. "That shit sucks. You shouldn't feel this much ... obviously the scrutiny and the media view on it and everybody passing around the videos that are out there, that's gonna make it a bigger situation than what I think it really is."
Travis finished the conversation by saying the following.
"But the real situation is you had some fucking clown come up to you and talk about your family and you reacted in a way that was defending your family," Travis said.
"And you might have used some words that you regret using," Travis added. "And that's a situation that you just gotta kinda learn from and own. And I think you owning it and you speaking about it shows how sincere you are to a lot of people in this world. And it shows, especially what you said on Monday night, that you choose not to fucking ... you don't choose hate. That's just not who you are."
