Austin Metcalf’s father, Jeff Metcalf, is facing new criticism after speaking publicly about Karmelo Anthony and his parents following the end of the gag order in the high-profile Texas murder case. The comments came only days after Anthony was sentenced to 35 years in prison for the fatal stabbing of Austin during a Frisco high school track meet.
The case has remained deeply emotional and divisive even after the verdict and sentencing. Anthony, who was 17 at the time of the stabbing and is now 19, was convicted of murder after jurors rejected his self-defense claim. His legal team has already filed a notice of appeal, meaning the courtroom fight is not fully over.
After months of limited public comment because of the gag order, both families have now begun speaking more openly. Anthony’s parents have questioned the fairness of the trial, while Austin’s father has defended the verdict and spoken about the pain of losing his son.
During a podcast appearance, Jeff Metcalf criticized Anthony and his parents in harsh terms. He accused Andrew Anthony and Kala Hayes of failing their son and using the case for attention, while also questioning how Karmelo reached the point where the confrontation ended in deadly violence.
One part of the interview drew particular backlash after Metcalf used a racially charged insult while referring to Anthony. The remark quickly spread online and added more tension to a case already surrounded by arguments about race, justice, and public reaction.
Metcalf insisted during the interview that he is not racist and said he believes the case is about right and wrong, not race. He also repeated the idea that everyone bleeds the same color, a message he has used before when asking people not to turn Austin’s death into a political or racial fight.
Still, many people online reacted strongly to the language he used, saying the comment was hurtful and only made the public debate more heated. Others defended him by pointing to his grief, though critics argued that pain does not excuse racially offensive remarks.
The podcast comments came as Anthony’s family continued raising concerns about the trial process. They have questioned the jury makeup, the witness testimony, and the way they believe Karmelo was judged in public before the case was decided in court.
The jury that convicted Anthony did not include any Black jurors, which has become one of the central issues in the backlash. During jury selection, the defense raised a Batson challenge, arguing that race may have played a role in removing potential jurors, but the judge denied the motion.
Now, with the gag order lifted and both families speaking publicly, the case remains a painful flashpoint. Austin Metcalf’s family continues to grieve a son they can never get back, while Karmelo Anthony’s family prepares for an appeal, and the public debate around the case grows even more intense.
