On Friday, Lions fan Ryan Kennedy held a press conference to discuss Sunday’s incident involving Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf at Ford Field, signaling that a lawsuit could be on the horizon.
Kennedy appeared alongside his two attorneys, wearing a suit jacket and a backward Lions cap. He spoke briefly, expressing his frustration about certain behaviors but stressing that he had never used racial slurs or hate speech at the game.
“In 15 years of holding a Lions season ticket, I’ve never done anything like that,” Kennedy said. He also appealed to Metcalf to clarify the situation publicly, noting that his family had received threats and harassment as a result of the controversy.
During the press conference, Kennedy sometimes appeared agitated and impatient. Toward the end, he questioned why the event was still ongoing, effectively closing it after roughly 13 minutes.
Attorney Shawn Head opened the session by describing Metcalf’s actions as an “assault.”
He said Metcalf had reached into the stands, grabbed Kennedy by the shirt, and pulled him down. While Kennedy was not physically hurt, Head emphasized that the alleged harm stemmed from false public accusations of racism made after the incident.
“After this assault, false claims about racial slurs were spread publicly,” Head said. “As a result, Kennedy and his family have faced threats, harassment, and damage to his business, including negative online reviews. Being falsely labeled as racist can have serious consequences for anyone.”
Head added that Kennedy’s legal team had contacted Metcalf’s representatives to request a correction of the record, but they had received no response as of Friday morning. Head noted that this lack of communication could support a future lawsuit, as it shows efforts were made to resolve the issue without legal action.
“The aim is accountability and to set the record straight,” Head said. He highlighted that Kennedy, Metcalf, and anyone who witnessed the event have the ability to clarify what was actually said.
Although no lawsuit has been formally filed yet, Kennedy’s team is exploring all legal options to protect him and his family. From Kennedy’s perspective, the record is already clear, but it remains to be seen whether Metcalf or the media will confirm his side of the story. If they do not, the matter may ultimately be decided in court.
