The father of Texas teenager Austin Metcalf delivered an emotional and highly controversial public outburst after a court-imposed gag order expired, directing fierce criticism at his son’s convicted killer and the killer’s family following the conclusion of the closely watched trial.
Jeff Metcalf appeared on the JinxedSip podcast on Wednesday, only days after a jury sentenced Karmelo Anthony to 35 years in prison for the fatal stabbing of his son during a high school track meet.
The interview marked Jeff’s first opportunity to speak freely after restrictions preventing both sides from publicly discussing the case were lifted.
During the nearly three-hour conversation, Jeff launched into an angry tirade that included personal attacks against Anthony and his parents, Drew and Kayla Anthony.
Referencing the intense public debate surrounding race that has followed the case, Jeff acknowledged he was about to say something he believed would attract attention before referring to Anthony with a racist slur.
“I have a new name for Karmelo,” he said before adding the offensive remark.
He then expressed hope that Anthony would spend years reflecting on his actions while serving his prison sentence.
Although Jeff had previously spoken publicly about forgiving the teenager responsible for his son’s death, he said the lifting of the gag order meant that “the muzzle’s off” and he no longer intended to hold back his feelings.
Much of his criticism was aimed at Anthony’s parents, whom he repeatedly described as “grifters” and “cowards.”
“You wouldn’t even show up for your son’s sentencing or victim impact statement,” Jeff said while raising his voice. “You abandoned your kid.”
He accused them of seeking financial gain through crowdfunding campaigns, saying they only supported their son when they believed it would generate donations.
“You never once took accountability. You tried to play victim. The real victim is the one who died, not the one who shoved a knife in his chest,” he added.
Austin Metcalf was fatally stabbed during a confrontation at a track meet on April 2 of last year at a stadium in Frisco, Texas. He died in the arms of his twin brother following the incident.
Throughout the trial, Anthony’s legal team argued that he acted in self-defense. The case generated nationwide discussion, with many public conversations focusing on the racial backgrounds of the victim and defendant, prompting the judge to impose a gag order during proceedings.
Jeff compared being unable to speak publicly during the trial to “being tied to a chair and someone is slapping your face back and forth.”
Despite his emotional remarks, he insisted that he had forgiven Anthony.
“Vengeance is mine,” he said after explaining that forgiveness was necessary for his own well-being.
“You have to let that stuff go or it will kill you. It will eat you up inside. If I didn’t, I would have wound up killing him and ending up in prison myself.”
Jeff also accused Anthony’s parents of deepening racial divisions and teaching hatred.
“From day one, I said this was never about race. Please don’t make it about race and don’t politicize it. And what did you do? You chose both. You have embarrᴀssed your own culture and race,” he said.
Later in the interview, Jeff claimed he was “racist against a**holes,” adding that he did not care about skin color but condemned what he viewed as character and behavior.
He went on to direct more harsh criticism at Drew and Kayla Anthony, questioning how their son came to commit the fatal act and accusing them of failing as parents.
Following Tuesday’s sentencing, Anthony’s family told CBS Mornings that “nobody wins.”
“It’s unfortunate. We’ve all been hurt by this. Everybody, everyone,” Drew Anthony said.
Kayla Anthony also maintained that her son “didn’t mean to hurt anyone.”
The parents argued that witness testimony had been inconsistent and expressed concerns about the composition of the jury, claiming there were no Black jurors.
Several Democratic lawmakers have also questioned the jury selection process, suggesting the lack of diversity may have affected perceptions of fairness.
Illinois Representative Jonathan Jackson argued that the case should be reopened and that all evidence should be fully reconsidered.
Court records show Anthony has already filed an appeal.
His attorney, Mike Howard, said the legal team informed the court immediately after trial that they intended to challenge the verdict.
“We believe there are several important issues for the appellate courts to consider. An appeal is the next part of the legal process and a right afforded every American,” Howard said.
Anthony, who was 17 at the time of the stabbing, broke down in tears as the judge announced his sentence, while members of his family were also visibly emotional in the courtroom.
His mother pleaded with jurors to show mercy before an audible gasp was reportedly heard when the sentence was announced hours later.
During the trial, Anthony maintained that he acted in self-defense after an argument during a rain delay at the sporting event.
According to the Frisco Police Department, Austin Metcalf confronted Anthony for standing beneath a team tent that did not belong to his school.
Anthony originally faced a sentencing range of between five and 99 years in prison.
After the guilty verdict, prosecutors agreed to allow jurors to consider whether he acted under “sudden pᴀssion,” a legal concept in Texas that can reduce punishment if a defendant committed an offense while under intense emotional disturbance.
Had jurors accepted that argument, Anthony’s punishment could have been reduced to that of a second-degree felony carrying a sentence as low as two years.
The jury rejected the claim after deliberating for less than three hours on guilt and approximately another two and a half hours on sentencing.
Under Texas law, Anthony will be required to serve at least half of his 35-year sentence before becoming eligible for parole.