Sofia Barruti
(CNN) — Jason Kelce issued an apology during ESPN’s “Monday Night Countdown” after a viral video captured a “heated moment” between the retired Super Bowl champion and a fan over the weekend.
The video shows an interaction between Kelce and an agitator outside the stadium where Penn State played Ohio State this Saturday. Kelce was at the game as part of the Pat McAfee kicking contest hosted by ESPN’s “College GameDay.”
A fan is heard using a homophobic slur directed at Kelce about his brother Travis, who is dating Taylor Swift. Jason Kelce turns around, grabs someone’s cell phone, and throws it to the ground.
Kelce is then heard repeating the homophobic slur toward the person.
“I think everyone saw on social media everything that happened this week,” Kelce said at the start of Monday night’s show. “I’m not happy with anything that happened. I’m not proud of it. “In a moment of tension, I chose to respond to hate with hate, and I don’t think that’s a productive thing.”
Kelce added that he tries to live his life “by the golden rule,” treating people with decency and respect, and will continue to do so, despite failing to do so over the weekend.
During a postgame news conference Saturday, Penn State head coach James Franklin said he wished the interaction had never happened.
“I wanted him to have a wonderful experience,” Franklin said of Kelce. “I saw something I wasn’t very proud of. “I wish that hadn’t happened.”
In a statement to CNN, Pennsylvania State Police said the investigation into this incident is ongoing.
CNN’s Kia Fatahi and Sara Smart contributed to this report.
