A Detroit Lions fan, Ryan Kennedy, has filed a $100 million lawsuit against Pittsburgh Steelers star DK Metcalf and his team, as well as several sports media outlets, for defamation and assault. The lawsuit stems from an incident at Ford Field in December when Kennedy was grabbed by the collar during an exchange with Metcalf along the front row.
Kennedy alleges that Metcalf initiated the physical contact without provocation, contrary to what he claims Metcalf said happened during the encounter. According to the complaint, Kennedy referred to Metcalf as "DeKaylin Zecharius Metcalf" and only engaged in ordinary crowd jeering, never using any racial or misogynistic slurs.
Kennedy's lawsuit centers on statements made by Chad "Ochocinco" Johnson, a former NFL player, during an episode of the "Nightcap" podcast. Johnson claimed Kennedy used racial and misogynistic slurs, but Kennedy denies making such comments. According to the complaint, Johnson provided false information to justify the physical confrontation.
Kennedy's lawsuit also accuses Metcalf of failing to supervise him and allowing a player to access and physically confront a spectator. The Steelers are being sued for vicarious liability for Metcalf's conduct. In addition to defamation claims, Kennedy is suing Metcalf for assault and battery, alleging he intentionally reached into the stands, grabbed him by the collar, and pulled him toward the field.
The lawsuit has serious implications, as it suggests that a player's actions can have long-lasting effects on a fan's life. Kennedy allegedly received death threats, harassing voicemails, and hate mail, and his mortgage-lending business suffered reputational and financial harm. He is seeking more than $100 million in damages, as well as court-ordered public retractions and corrections from the defendants through major national outlets.
The NFL has already taken disciplinary action against Metcalf, suspending him for two games without pay for conduct detrimental to the league. Metcalf's coach, Mike Tomlin, said publicly that he spoke with the receiver about the incident but did not condone the behavior.
Kennedy alleges that Metcalf initiated the physical contact without provocation, contrary to what he claims Metcalf said happened during the encounter. According to the complaint, Kennedy referred to Metcalf as "DeKaylin Zecharius Metcalf" and only engaged in ordinary crowd jeering, never using any racial or misogynistic slurs.
Kennedy's lawsuit centers on statements made by Chad "Ochocinco" Johnson, a former NFL player, during an episode of the "Nightcap" podcast. Johnson claimed Kennedy used racial and misogynistic slurs, but Kennedy denies making such comments. According to the complaint, Johnson provided false information to justify the physical confrontation.
Kennedy's lawsuit also accuses Metcalf of failing to supervise him and allowing a player to access and physically confront a spectator. The Steelers are being sued for vicarious liability for Metcalf's conduct. In addition to defamation claims, Kennedy is suing Metcalf for assault and battery, alleging he intentionally reached into the stands, grabbed him by the collar, and pulled him toward the field.
The lawsuit has serious implications, as it suggests that a player's actions can have long-lasting effects on a fan's life. Kennedy allegedly received death threats, harassing voicemails, and hate mail, and his mortgage-lending business suffered reputational and financial harm. He is seeking more than $100 million in damages, as well as court-ordered public retractions and corrections from the defendants through major national outlets.
The NFL has already taken disciplinary action against Metcalf, suspending him for two games without pay for conduct detrimental to the league. Metcalf's coach, Mike Tomlin, said publicly that he spoke with the receiver about the incident but did not condone the behavior.
. I mean, it's one thing to get rowdy at a game and have a disagreement with someone on the field, but 100 million dollars? That's just crazy talk 
. And what really gets me is that Kennedy's saying Metcalf initiated physical contact without provocation... like, aren't they both adults? Can't they just work it out like normal people? 
. I don't know the details, but it sounds like a whole lot of drama for something that might've been blown way out of proportion.
. But this lawsuit is just so big and expensive-looking. I hope both sides can figure it out without anyone getting hurt too bad 
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It's all about who's got the $$ and the influence, if you ask me. Metcalf's team is clearly trying to sweep this under the rug, but Kennedy's not having it - $100 million is a pretty penny! 
The NFL needs to take a closer look at their security protocols before someone gets seriously hurt. This case has serious implications for all fans, regardless of who's playing or which team they support. 
this whole thing is wild, metcalf coulda just walked away or called security like a normal person, no need for all that drama 
. I don't think Metcalf's actions were justified and he should be held accountable for his behavior 
. The fact that Kennedy wasn't even using racial slurs or misogynistic language is ridiculous 
. It just goes to show how easily things can escalate and fans can get hurt in the process 
. And as for Johnson, I don't even know why he felt the need to speak out about this 
And what's up with Chad Johnson's claims? If Kennedy didn't say anything bad about Metcalf, why would Johnson make that stuff up to get him in trouble?