Jason Kelce insults Dallas as the 'butthole and armpit' of America
- During a live ESPN broadcast, Jason Kelce attempted to humorously follow up on a joke made by Mina Kimes about Springfield.
- Kelce compared Arlington and Dallas, Texas, to the 'butthole and armpit of America' which prompted a shocked response from his fellow panelists.
- Despite clarifying his intent was humor, Kelce faced scrutiny and emphasized his affection for Dallas, marking a controversial moment in his first season as an analyst.
In early December 2024, during a live broadcast of 'Monday Night Countdown' on ESPN, Jason Kelce, a retired NFL player and former center for the Philadelphia Eagles, found himself in the midst of a controversial moment when he made a joke about Arlington and Dallas, Texas. This incident erupted while the crew was engaged in a themed interaction with 'The Simpsons' characters during the broadcast of the Bengals-Cowboys game. Mina Kimes, a fellow panelist, had just referred to Springfield, the show's fictional town, as 'The Armpit of America's Butt-Crack,' setting the stage for Kelce's follow-up comment that labeled the two Texas cities as 'the butthole and armpit of America.' Kelce's attempt at humor aimed to mimic Kimes' joke, quickly drew a shocked reaction from his colleagues. As the atmosphere became tense, Kelce quickly clarified that he was only joking but faced skepticism from the host, Scott Van Pelt, who questioned the sincerity of the remark given Kelce's past as a rival player to the Dallas Cowboys. In his defense, Kelce emphasized that he enjoyed Dallas and its culture, mentioning cowboy hats as part of his explanation. This incident was particularly notable as it marked Kelce's first season as an analyst on 'Monday Night Countdown,' following his retirement from a 13-year career with the Eagles earlier in 2024. His rise to fame included a popular podcast called 'New Heights,' co-hosted with his brother, Travis Kelce, a tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs who is dating pop icon Taylor Swift. This incident reflects not only the humorous and unpredictable aspects of sports broadcasting but also how sensitive remarks can quickly ignite discussions about regional pride and personal sentiments in the sports community. Fans and viewers often have strong attachments to their home cities, making any derogatory insinuation a potential flashpoint for controversy, especially from someone with Kelce's profile in the NFL.