Austin Metcalf’s father went on an unhinged rant calling Karmelo Anthony a racial slur and slandering his parents after a judge lifted a gag order.
During an appearance on investigative journalist Sarah Fields’ podcast, Jeff Metcalf referred to Anthony as “watermelon felon.”
Anthony was convicted of stabbing 17-year-old Austin Metcalf during a track meet in Frisco, Texas on April 2, 2025. He is currently serving 35 years in a Texa state prison.
Jeff Metcalf previously said he forgave Anthony for killing his son. But once the gag order lifted, he vented his outrage against Anthony, his parents, and their supporters.
He referred to Anthony’s parents, Andrew Anthony and Kala Hayes, as “grifters.”
“You are grifters. You should be ashamed of yourselves,” he said. He also called Andrew Anthony a “coward” for not attending his son’s sentencing. Jeff directed a question toward Hayes, “What’d you do to that boy to make him stab somebody?”
Jeff said he was going to “make something racist up so y’all can go viral,” referring to Anthony’s supporters. “I got a new name for ‘Melo, OK, ’cause he’s such this little boy you’re always trying to portray. How about watermelon felon. How’s that one strike ya?”
Jeff said he forgave Anthony so the anger wouldn’t eat him up like cancer on the inside. “It’s like me drinking poison and hoping it kills you. It doesn’t work that way. You’ve gotta let that stuff go or it will kill you. It will eat you up inside.”
He added, “You can’t make a good decision if you’re emotional. Emotion and intellect do not mix. If you’re emotional, you can’t come up with a logical solution.
Jeff Metcalf’s words caused widespread outrage on social media.
Metcalf claimed he’s “not racist,” and he is only “racist against a—holes.” He said “we all bleed the same color.” But he said he was exhausted by “Black fatigue,” and he said African American people “embarrassed your own culture and race.”
Austin Metcalf's dad calls Karmelo Anthony "watermelon felon" …
Credit: JinxedSip pic.twitter.com/QAe6yaXUBD
— TMZ (@TMZ) June 12, 2026