Jeff Metcalf, father of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf, expressed anger toward commentators and hosts he believes have tried to profit from his son’s death.
During an appearance on “The Will Cain Show,” he accused certain media figures of turning a personal tragedy into “clickbait.”
“They’re looking for their 15 minutes of fame, or their clickbait, or their clicks. They’re just looking to monetize the death of my son,” Metcalf said, as reported [1] by Fox News.
The remarks came shortly after newly released evidence shed light on the 2025 stabbing that took Austin’s life at a Texas track meet.
Police body camera footage from that day shows convicted killer Karmelo Anthony in handcuffs, telling officers:
“I’m not alleged. I did it.”
Anthony was convicted earlier this month of first-degree murder and received a 35-year prison sentence.
Metcalf spoke candidly about how national coverage of the tragedy shifted focus away from his son’s life.
He was especially critical of “The View” co-host Sunny Hostin, who questioned why Anthony’s case was not determined to be self-defense.
“I really wish they wouldn’t speak about it at all because one, if that woman said that, she has no idea about the facts of the case,” Metcalf said.
“She is completely wrong.” He even offered to appear on the show to discuss the case directly.
The Texas father said he had asked early on for the tragedy not to be politicized.
“The two things I said on one of the first interviews I ever did was, ‘Please don’t make this about race, please don’t politicize it,’” he said.
“But they chose to do both.”
He told host Will Cain that discussions about race and politics surrounding the case have been painful for the family.
“We don’t see color,” he explained.
“All I see is character in people. I want to judge you on how you treat people.”
Jeff Metcalf also shared how the case has affected his family’s healing, particularly Austin’s twin brother, who continues to struggle with the loss.
The wound, he said, remains just as deep more than a year later.
He described Austin as a “God-fearing” leader and a caring teammate known for his kindness toward younger athletes.
“He always helped,” Metcalf said. “He would go and talk to them and tell them what to expect. He would coach them in the weight room.”
Despite his grief, he showed brief empathy toward Anthony during the trial, saying the convicted teenager appeared isolated after his family left the courtroom.
“They weren’t there for the sentencing, and they were not there for victim impact statements,” he said.
“They left that poor child up there by himself.”
When asked if Anthony’s family had reached out to apologize, Metcalf indicated that no contact had been made. He did not elaborate further.
Throughout the interview, he focused on preserving his son’s memory rather than the public debates that followed.
His frustration with media pundits echoed a broader concern about sensationalism overtaking humanity in coverage of tragedies.
He told Cain the endless commentary ignored Austin’s real story — a young man defined by compassion and leadership. “He had compassion. He showed love,” Metcalf said, recalling his son’s generosity and faith.
For Jeff Metcalf, the outcome of the trial closed a legal chapter but opened ongoing reflection about his family’s future.
The experience, he said, underscored the lasting weight of loss. “I mean, this is a trauma that you carry the rest of your life,” he concluded.