AT A GLANCE
- Jeff Metcalf, the father of Austin Metcalf, called Karmelo Anthony a “watermelon felon” during a podcast appearance.
- The remarks came after a judge lifted the gag order that had limited both families from speaking publicly.
- Anthony, 19, was sentenced to 35 years in prison after being convicted in the fatal stabbing of Metcalf at a Frisco track meet.
- The case has drawn national attention over race, jury makeup and whether Anthony’s sentence was excessive.
The Remarks Were Made After A Judge Lifted A Gag Order That Had Prevented Both Families From Speaking Publicly
The Karmelo Anthony case is drawing new outrage after Jeff Metcalf, the father of slain Texas teenager Austin Metcalf, used a racist insult against Anthony during a podcast interview this week.
The remarks came days after Anthony was sentenced to 35 years in prison and after a judge lifted a gag order that had prevented both families from speaking publicly about the case.
According to Hollywood Unlocked, Metcalf made the comments during a nearly three-hour appearance Wednesday on the JinxedSip Podcast with Sarah Fields. During the interview, Metcalf referred to Anthony, who is Black, as a “watermelon felon” while criticizing people he accused of playing “the race card.”
“How’s that one strike ya?” Metcalf said after using the phrase. “I hope he enjoyed his first night in that cell last night, ‘cause he’s gonna have many nights to think about what the f—k he did.”
Jeff Metcalf Denies Racism While Attacking Anthony’s Family
Metcalf’s comments did not stop with Anthony. During the same interview, he also attacked Anthony’s parents, Andrew Anthony and Kala Hayes, accusing them of abandoning their son and profiting from the case.
“You are grifters. You should be ashamed of yourselves,” Metcalf said, while claiming the parents did not attend Anthony’s sentencing.
He also suggested child protective services should check on the couple’s other children, called Andrew Anthony a “coward,” and directed a misogynistic slur at Hayes while questioning what she had done to her son.
“What’d you do to that boy to make him stab somebody?” Metcalf said.
Despite using the racial insult, Metcalf insisted during the interview that he is “not racist.” He said he is only “racist against a—holes” and added that “we all bleed the same color.” He also used the phrase “Black fatigue” and told listeners, “You’ve embarrassed your own culture and race.”
Karmelo Anthony Sentencing Remains Under National Scrutiny
The remarks landed in the middle of an already raw national conversation around Anthony’s conviction and sentence.
Anthony was convicted of murder in the fatal stabbing of Austin Metcalf, who was white, during an altercation at a Frisco track meet. The case drew attention far beyond Texas, fueled by social media debate over race, self-defense claims and whether the punishment was too severe.
Anthony was sentenced to 35 years in prison by a jury that included no Black members. The jury makeup has become one of the central points of criticism, especially in a county where Black residents make up 12.1% of the population.
Anthony’s parents broke their silence after the sentencing, saying they believe their son did not receive a fair trial and vowing to continue fighting for him.
The sentence has also drawn public criticism from several high-profile figures, including Cardi B and U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, who have described the punishment as excessive.
Metcalf’s podcast comments are now adding another layer to a case already defined by grief, racial tension and public distrust. For many following the case, the remarks undercut his insistence that race has not played a role in the public response.
