A Detroit Lions supporter involved in a sideline confrontation with DK Metcalf has now escalated the situation far beyond the field, filing a massive lawsuit that also ropes in several high-profile media personalities.

Ryan Kennedy, the fan seen in a viral exchange with the Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver during a Week 16 game at Ford Field, has filed a $100 million lawsuit in Wayne County Court. While Metcalf is the central defendant, the suit also names former NFL players Chad Johnson and Shannon Sharpe, along with Sharpe’s media company, Shay Shay Media.

The incident occurred in the second quarter of the Lions–Steelers matchup when Kennedy, leaning over the railing near the field, appeared to engage in a verbal exchange with Metcalf. Video footage shows Metcalf making an upward swiping motion toward Kennedy before walking away. The league later suspended Metcalf for two games as a result of the altercation.

The controversy expanded after an episode of the Nightcap podcast, hosted by Johnson and Sharpe. During the show, Johnson claimed that Metcalf told him he reacted aggressively because Kennedy allegedly directed a racial slur at him and made an offensive remark involving his mother.

Kennedy has firmly denied those accusations. Days after the podcast aired, he held a press conference alongside his legal team, publicly rejecting any suggestion that he used racist or hateful language. Wearing a suit and backward baseball cap, Kennedy emphasized that he has been a Lions season ticket holder for 15 years and has never engaged in that kind of behavior. He also addressed Metcalf directly, asking him to publicly acknowledge that no racial slur was used. During the statement, Kennedy referred to the receiver by his given first name, DeKaylin—something that has reportedly contributed to Metcalf’s frustration.

In the lawsuit, Kennedy is seeking nine separate claims for damages. In addition to accusing Metcalf of assault and battery, the complaint alleges negligence against Johnson, Sharpe, and Shay Shay Media, arguing that the podcast hosts spread unverified and false claims. Ford Field management is also listed as a defendant, with Kennedy asserting that inadequate security and crowd-control measures allowed the confrontation to happen.

Kennedy’s legal team is demanding not only financial compensation but also a public retraction from Johnson and Sharpe. According to a statement from Kennedy’s attorney, Jon Marko of Marko Law, the podcast falsely portrayed Kennedy as having used the “N-word” and a misogynistic insult, claims the attorney says are unsupported by any audio or video evidence.

The attorney further stated that those allegations were amplified by major media outlets such as ESPN, Yahoo Sports, and USA Today, rapidly spreading online and resulting in Kennedy being labeled a racist nationwide. Marko claims the fallout included death threats, hate messages, and significant harm to Kennedy’s business and personal reputation.

The lawsuit also argues that Ford Field failed to implement proper barriers or protocols to prevent players and fans from physically interacting, creating an unsafe environment that contributed to the incident.