$100 Million Lawsuit Over DK Metcalf Incident Now Targets Ford Field

There was a highly-publicized incident at Ford Field during a game between the host Detroit Lions and Pittsburgh Steelers involving Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf and a fan named Ryan Kennedy.

Video showed Metcalf walking over to Kennedy and grabbed his shirt before shoving him away; Kennedy was later accused of having hurled racial epithets at Metcalf, which he emphatically denied.

Now, Kennedy has filed a $100 million lawsuit saying that not only was he physically harmed, but falsely accused of making racist remarks toward Metcalf. Named in the lawsuit are Metcalf, the Pittsburgh Steelers, Ford Field Management LLC, Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson, Shay Shay Media LLC, and All Time Sports LLC.

“The statements were false and reckless,” the lawsuit reads. “Plaintiff Kennedy did not call Defendant Metcalf the ‘N-word’; did not call Defendant Metcalf mother a ‘c—‘; and did not ever use any racial slurs or hate speech whatsoever … Defendant Metcalf provided false information to Defendant Johnson about what Plaintiff Kennedy allegedly said, thereby instigating and authorizing the publication of the defamatory and reckless statements which were intended to harm Plaintiff Kennedy.”

Ford Field was included in the lawsuit for failure to have adequate barriers between fans and the players that would have prevented such an incident.

“Defendant Ford Field Management, LLC breached its duty by failing to establish or enforce adequate barriers, protocols, or security measures to prevent players from reaching into the stands and making physical contact with patrons,” the lawsuit reads.

Michael Whitaker Michael Whitaker is a sports journalist based in metro Detroit with nearly a full decade of experience with publications like Clutch Points and The Hockey News. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism from Eastern Michigan University. More about Michael Whitaker