Detroit Lions fan Ryan Kennedy wanted to "correct the record" during his press conference with legal representation on Friday morning. Kennedy, the fan who was involved in an incident with Pittsburgh Steelers receiver DK Metcalf on Sunday, said his family is receiving threats because Metcalf falsely accused him of using a racial slur before forcefully grabbing him.
Kennedy and Detroit-area law firm Head Murphy Law are evaluating all their options and will "use any legal remedies available to help protect Ryan Kennedy and his family."
"It is really hard to get me upset, but there's two things — animal abuse, racism — like, I get hot right away," Kennedy said. "Like, I can feel it in my face, it's all warm. So I guess I wanna be crystal-clear about one thing. I didn't use any racial slurs, no hate speech, none of that stuff at the game. Actually, never — 15-year season ticket holder for the Lions — I've never done that at all.
"So DeKaylin, if you're watching this, man, if you could just say that, please. My family is getting threats and stuff, and it's not cool."
Attorney Shawn Head reiterated Kennedy's statement. The NFL suspended DK Metcalf for two games for the incident.
"The goal here is accountability and to correct the record," Head said. "Again, the false accusations of racial statements or racial slurs being used causes real damage — and that needs to be corrected. Mr. Kennedy obviously has the ability to correct that record, but so does everybody else who heard what was actually said. And so does Mr. Metcalf. He can come out and tell the truth and indicate that he never heard any racial slur uttered by Mr. Kennedy."
Head reiterated that Kennedy used Metcalf's full first name and asked him to sign a Steelers jersey.
"But what he did not say is what matters most here," Head said. "During an entire half of football and for 15 years as a season ticket holder, he did not say any racial slurs, he did not call any names and, most importantly, he complied with the Ford Field guest code of conduct. … He followed the rules."
Head confirmed that Kennedy was reported to security last season when Metcalf visited as part of the Seattle Seahawks .
"There was a complaint that was lodged last year. Not sure exactly who it came from," Head said. "It may have come from Mr. Metcalf or his representatives, but again, that was investigated last year, as well, by both the Seahawks' personnel and the Lions' personnel — or Ford Field security personnel — and, again, no conduct violation was found, at all. And, in fact, Mr. Kennedy was allowed to remain for the entirety of that game last year, as well."
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now : Lions Fan Claims Innocence, Wants Steelers WR DK Metcalf to Correct Record
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