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Mascot shove earns NBA player a one-game suspension

Los Angeles Lakers big man Jaxson Hayes was handed a one-game suspension by the NBA ‘for pushing a Washington Wizards mascot during pregame introductions,’ the league said in a statement on Wednesday, Feb. 4.

Hayes shoved the Wizards’ mascot, G-Wiz, during pregame introductions before the Jan. 30 game in Washington. The mascot had been running with a giant flag when Hayes, 25, made contact, sending the mascot careening into cheerleaders running onto the court, video of the incident shows.

The Lakers will be without Hayes for Thursday night’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers.

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This post appeared first on USA TODAY

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Ex-NFL player’s death may be linked to 3 California slayings

The death of former NFL defensive tackle Kevin Johnson could be connected to three other murder cases of homeless people in the same area of Los Angeles, authorities said on Tuesday, Feb. 3.

Johnson, 55, was found dead shortly before 8 a.m. local time on Wednesday, Jan. 21, at a homeless encampment about 10 miles east of Los Angeles International Airport, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. At the time, the sheriff’s department said deputies located an unconscious man, later identified as Johnson, suffering from blunt force trauma.

He was pronounced dead at the scene, and his death was ruled a homicide, the sheriff’s department said. On Thursday, Jan. 22, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner said Johnson’s cause of death was ‘blunt head trauma and stab wounds.’

In an update on Feb. 3, the sheriff’s department said its Homicide Bureau was investigating a ‘series of homicide cases’ that occurred in the same general location, specifically the ‘1300 block of East 120th Street in the unincorporated area of Los Angeles.’

Four people were killed in the area from October 2025 to January 2026, according to the sheriff’s department. All four victims were unhoused and living in homeless encampments in the area.

‘At this time, investigators are working to determine whether these cases are related,’ the sheriff’s department said in a statement. ‘One of the victims was Kevin Johnson, a former NFL player who played during the 1990’s.’

The sheriff’s department is asking for the public’s assistance in the investigation and has urged anyone with information related to the incidents to contact the Homicide Bureau or the Los Angeles Regional Crime Stoppers.

Who was Kevin Johnson?

Born in Los Angeles, Johnson began his football career at Los Angeles Harbor College and Texas Southern University before being drafted by the New England Patriots in the fourth round of the 1993 NFL Draft.

After the Patriots released Johnson that August, the defensive tackle made brief stops in Minnesota and Oakland as a practice squad member and training camp participant before the Philadelphia Eagles claimed him off waivers in August 1995.

He played two seasons for the Eagles, appearing in 23 games and starting six of them in the regular season. He also appeared in two playoff games in 1995.

After he missed a practice, the Eagles suspended and then released Johnson in 1996, according to Pro Football Reference and the Philadelphia Inquirer. He signed with the Oakland Raiders the following April and appeared in 15 games, tallying seven tackles.

In 1998, the Raiders released Johnson and he then played four years in the Arena Football League, winning an ArenaBowl with the Orlando Predators that same year.

Violence against people who are homeless

The deaths of Johnson and the three other unhoused victims mark the latest incident of violence against people who are homeless in the United States. A 2024 report from the National Coalition for the Homeless revealed that the non-profit organization documented nearly 2,000 incidents of violence against people who were homeless over a period of 23 years.

‘At least 588 of unhoused victims lost their lives in violent attacks during this period,’ the report states. ‘These crimes appear to have been motivated by a perpetrator’s bias against people experiencing homelessness, and to have been facilitated by a perpetrator’s ability to target homeless people with relative ease.’

The report noted that many incidents remain underreported and are ‘likely even more gruesome than available reports imply.’ In 2019, the Bureau of Justice Statistics found that less than half — about 44% — of violent incidents against people experiencing homelessness are reported to police, according to the report.

In recent years, multiple incidents across the country have made national headlines. In June 2025, a man was arrested for stabbing 11 people at an Oregon homeless shelter. In October 2024, authorities in Minnesota said three people were killed, and three others were injured in back-to-back shootings at two separate homeless encampments.

Similar incidents also occurred in 2023 and 2022, including ‘serial’ killings of three homeless men in Los Angeles, three men who were stabbed while they slept in New York City, and a string of shootings in New York City and Washington, DC.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

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From Swiss Vaults to Digital Wallets: How MKS PAMP is Modernizing the Gold Standard

Gold has seen wild swings over the last week, hitting record highs near US$5,600 per ounce before plunging nearly 10 percent to around US$4,700 in the sharpest drop in over a decade. The real story, though, isn’t just the price action, but how tokenized gold is modernizing one of the world’s oldest reserve assets for a new era.

Leading this charge is Gold Token SA (GTSA), the gold tokenization arm of Swiss precious metals giant MKS PAMP.

Under the leadership of CEO Kurt Hemecker, GTSA is transforming how institutions and individual investors interact with the world’s oldest reserve asset by placing it on modern rails.

As digital assets like Bitcoin struggle to maintain their safe-haven narrative amid high-profile fraud cases, institutions are seeking trusted assets on modern rails, where blockchain’s functional advantages — such as 24/7 liquidity and instant settlement — can upgrade low-volatility reserve assets via tokenization.

The infrastructure bridge: Legal title and institutional trust

MKS PAMP is a family-owned global powerhouse that operates one of the world’s most renowned refineries.

By launching the DGLD token on the Base network, Coinbase’s Layer 2 blockchain, in mid-December 2025, GTSA effectively bridged the gap between 60 years of Swiss precious metals heritage and US-centric blockchain technology.

Unlike speculative crypto tokens, “DGLD is designed to represent allocated physical gold rather than a claim on an issuer,” prioritizing the institutionalization of real-world assets through transparent governance, Hemecker said.

”That design approach is important in jurisdictions like the US, where regulators are still clarifying the boundaries between securities and other digital assets,” he added. Physical gold’s familiarity reduces ambiguity, giving institutions clear legal title to specific vaulted bars, not issuer promises or derivatives.

According to Hemecker, this structure earns policymaker support as “controlled tokenization, where digital representations of existing assets are well-governed and clearly backed, rather than creating new, untested monetary substitutes.” Investors gain direct property rights over high-security Swiss vaults, outpacing tech-first rivals.

Transparency serves as a competitive advantage in this new era of digital commodities. Gold investors, who are traditionally obsessed with provenance, can utilize GTSA’s Bar Mapper tool. This technology allows a digital holder to trace their token back to specific gold bars certified by the London Bullion Market Association

Users can view non-sensitive metadata, including the refiner, weight, purity and serial number of the bars, providing a level of auditability that was previously impossible in the gold market. This creates a transparent link between digital ownership and physical existence, ensuring that every token is backed by real, verifiable gold.

Overcoming hurdles

The operational hurdles once plaguing tokenization are rapidly fading. “Several early frictions are already easing,” Hemecker said. “Operational and technical uncertainty is declining as standards around custody, issuance and lifecycle management mature. Institutional access is improving, and credibility gaps are narrowing.

This maturity drives a shift from experimental pilots to institutional balance-sheet allocations.

“What we’re seeing from institutions and central banks is not a move away from traditional safe-haven assets, but a desire to modernize the infrastructure around them,” he explained. Blockchain’s 24/7 availability, near-instant settlement and efficient reporting keep gold exposure while accelerating infrastructure.

“Tokenized gold allows institutions to maintain exposure to a familiar reserve asset, while benefiting from faster settlement … This is about putting trusted assets on modern rails.”

Liquidity follows suit. “Liquidity will increasingly be judged by depth and reliability, not headline volumes,” Hemecker noted. “Custody quality will move to the foreground, with institutions favoring allocated, insured gold held with reputable vaulting partners.” DGLD delivers this via Base and Aerodrome DEX’s nonstop trading.

Finally, redemption seals the trust: “Redemption down to 1 gram expands accessibility and utility for collateral, lending, repos and beyond. Redemption builds trust, but tokenization is where the real utility comes from.”

The regulatory landscape

The regulatory landscape continues to play a pivotal role in the adoption of tokenized gold.

While GTSA is a Swiss-regulated entity supervised by FINMA-level standards, its presence on the Base network demonstrates a strategic navigation of global demand.

“Regulatory trends are likely to support tokenized gold adoption by rewarding transparent, well-governed structures that fit within existing financial and commodity frameworks,” Hemecker said. “Products with clear custody, governance and legal ownership are simply easier for institutions to assess and approve.”

The GENIUS Act, passed in the US in 2025, clarifies stablecoin rules, prioritizing 1:1 reserves and audits, which favor insured custody like MKS PAMP’s. The proposed CLARITY Act would split Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) purview, classifying some assets as “digital commodities.”

This past January, the SEC and CFTC held a joint harmonization event to align on digital asset oversight, while the CLARITY Act awaits Senate action after House passage in 2025.

Looking ahead

Looking ahead, Hemecker believes the trend favors “consolidation rather than proliferation.’

Tokenization can improve traceability and data continuity, aiding secondary markets like recycled gold. It connects the value chain from mine to vault to wallet, but needs “standards, audits, operational integration and regulatory alignment” for real transparency, according to Hemecker.

For mining and finance, DGLD modernizes the Swiss gold standard.

“Our focus … is building the foundations … so (it’s) ready to scale responsibly,’ said Hemecker.

Securities Disclosure: I, Meagen Seatter, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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Valeura Energy: Positioned for Organic Growth and Accretive M&A in Southeast Asia’s Offshore Oil Sector

Valeura Energy (TSX:VLE,OTCQX:VLERF) is an oil and gas company focused on the development and operation of shallow-water offshore assets in the Gulf of Thailand. The company, listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange and headquartered in Singapore, is strategically positioned within the Asia-Pacific region. Valeura operates four producing oil fields—Nong Yao, Jasmine, Wassana, and Manora—and has established itself as a low-cost, dependable operator in a mature basin supported by extensive existing infrastructure.

Valeura focuses on maximizing free cash flow from existing production while extending asset life through ongoing drilling, upgrades, and near-field exploration. This is supported by a disciplined acquisition strategy, positioning the Company as a potential regional consolidator, backed by an experienced management team with a strong track record in operations, transactions, and safety.

Valeura’s primary focus is its operated portfolio of shallow-water offshore oil fields in the Gulf of Thailand, which form the foundation of its cash flow, reserves growth and near-term value creation. The company currently operates four producing fields – Nong Yao, Jasmine, Wassana and Manora – all located in a mature basin with extensive infrastructure and a long history of reserve replacement through continued development.

Company Highlights

  • Second-largest oil producer in Thailand, operating four shallow-water offshore fields in the Gulf of Thailand
  • Strong financial position, with US$306 million in cash and no debt as of December 31, 2025
  • Growing reserves and extended field lives, with 57.6 mmbbl of 2P reserves and a multi-year history of approximately 200 percent reserves replacement per year
  • Highly cash-generative business, generating US$158 million in free cash flow over the last twelve months to September 30, 2025
  • Growth-oriented strategy, combining disciplined organic investment with accretive M&A opportunities in the Asia-Pacific region

This Valeura Energy profile is part of a paid investor education campaign.*

Click here to connect with Valeura Energy (TSX:VLE) to receive an Investor Presentation

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Syntholene Energy Corp Strengthens Advisory Board with Former COO of Icelandair Jens Thordarson

Mr. Thordarson brings two decades of expertise in operations, infrastructure development, and large-scale business transformation in the aviation industry

Syntholene Energy Corp. (TSXV: ESAF,OTC:SYNTF) (OTCQB: SYNTF) (FSE: 3DD0) (‘Syntholene’ or the ‘Company’) announces the nomination of Jens Thordarson, former Chief Operating Officer of Icelandair, to its Advisory Board. With nearly two decades of leadership experience in the aviation industry, Mr. Thordarson brings expertise in operations, infrastructure development, and large-scale business transformation, critical elements as Syntholene advances its synthetic fuel solutions for global transportation and logistics.

Mr. Thordarson held multiple executive roles at Icelandair over his 17-year tenure, including Chief Operating Officer and Vice President of Technical Operations. In these roles, he spearheaded large-scale operational improvements, optimized fleet management, and integrated advanced technologies to enhance efficiency and sustainability in one of the world’s most demanding industries. Currently, he serves as CEO of GeoSalmo, a company focused on sustainable aquaculture, further reinforcing his commitment to innovative and environmentally responsible industries. Mr. Thordarson also serves as the Honorary Consul of Ireland in Iceland, encouraging tourism, trade, and foreign affairs between the two nations.

‘Jens’ leadership in aviation and operations, combined with his strategic network in the nation of Iceland, makes him an ideal contributor to Syntholene’s Advisory Board,’ said Dan Sutton, Chief Executive Officer of Syntholene Energy Corp. ‘As we work to bring sustainable synthetic fuels to Icelandic and European markets, his insights into politics, regulatory landscape, and infrastructure readiness will be instrumental in driving our commercialization strategy.’

Syntholene Energy Corp. is at the forefront of developing sustainable synthetic fuels designed to seamlessly integrate with existing energy infrastructure while significantly reducing carbon emissions. The nomination of Mr. Thordarson reinforces the Company’s commitment to drawing expertise from industries where fuel efficiency, innovation, and operational scale are paramount.

‘I am excited to join Syntholene’s Advisory Board and contribute my experience in aviation, operations, and strategic growth,’ said Mr. Thordarson. ‘The transition to sustainable fuels is essential for industries like aviation, and Syntholene’s technology represents a major step forward, taking a fundamentally different and more disciplined approach to the challenge. I look forward to working with the team as they move toward scale.’

About Syntholene

Syntholene is actively commercializing its novel Hybrid Thermal Production System for low-cost clean fuel synthesis. The target output is ultrapure synthetic jet fuel, manufactured at 70% lower cost than the nearest competing technology today. The company’s mission is to deliver the world’s first truly high-performance, low-cost, and carbon-neutral synthetic fuel at an industrial scale, unlocking the potential to produce clean synthetic fuel at lower cost than fossil fuels, for the first time.

Syntholene’s power-to-liquid strategy harnesses thermal energy to power proprietary integrations of hydrogen production and fuel synthesis. Syntholene has secured 20MW of dedicated energy to support the Company’s upcoming demonstration facility and commercial scale-up.

Founded by experienced operators across advanced energy infrastructure, nuclear technology, low-emissions steel refining, process engineering, and capital markets, Syntholene aims to be the first team to deliver a scalable modular production platform for cost-competitive synthetic fuel, thus accelerating the commercialization of carbon-neutral eFuels across global markets.

For further information, please contact:
Dan Sutton, CEO
comms@syntholene.com
www.syntholene.com

Investor Relations
KIN Communications Inc.
604-684-6730
ESAF@kincommunications.com

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. The use of any of the words ‘expect’, ‘anticipate’, ‘aims’, ‘continue’, ‘estimate’, ‘objective’, ‘may’, ‘will’, ‘project’, ‘should’, ‘believe’, ‘plans’, ‘intends’ and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking information or statements. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, including but not limited to statements regarding the completion of the definitive agreement, successful implementation of the test facility, commercial scalability, technical and economic viability, anticipated geothermal power availability, anticipated benefit of eFuel, and future commercial opportunities, are forward-looking statements.

The forward-looking statements and information are based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by the Company, including without limitation the assumption that the Company will be able to execute its business plan, that the eFuel will have its expected benefits, that there will be market adoption, and that the Company will be able to access financing as needed to fund its business plan. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking statements and information are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements and information because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements and information address future events and conditions, by their very nature, they involve inherent risks and uncertainties.

Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks, including, without limitation, Syntholene’s ability to meet production targets, realize projected economic benefits, overcome technical challenges, secure financing, maintain regulatory compliance, manage geopolitical risks, and successfully negotiate definitive terms. Syntholene does not undertake any obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable securities laws.

Readers are advised to exercise caution and not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/282796

News Provided by TMX Newsfile via QuoteMedia

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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Crypto Market Update: Bitcoin Price Slide Drives Half-Trillion Crypto Wipeout

Here’s a quick recap of the crypto landscape for Wednesday (February 4) as of 9:00 p.m. UTC.

Get the latest insights on Bitcoin, Ether and altcoins, along with a round-up of key cryptocurrency market news.

Bitcoin and Ether price update

Bitcoin (BTC) was priced at US$73,420.53, down by 3.9 percent over 24 hours.

Bitcoin price performance, February 4, 2026.

Chart via TradingView.

Expectations of tighter monetary policy and unresolved regulatory tensions are also weighing on investors.

Meanwhile, XS.com’s Samer Hasn is observing positive sentiment marked by long-term investors and new Bitcoin addresses accumulating at current low prices, despite speculative money leaving. He views the downtrend as a buying opportunity while the broader market anticipates crucial economic data and earnings from Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL).

Ether (ETH) was priced at US$2,164.80, down by 5.7 percent over the last 24 hours.

Altcoin price update

  • XRP (XRP) was priced at US$1.54, down by 4.7 over 24 hours.
  • Solana (SOL) was trading at US$93.04, down by 7.7 percent over 24 hours.

Today’s crypto news to know

Bitcoin-led selloff wipes nearly US$500 billion from crypto market

A sharp crypto selloff has erased nearly half a trillion dollars in market value in less than a week, with Bitcoin leading the decline, according to a Bloomberg report.

The total market cap for crypto has fallen by about US$467.6 billion since January 29.

Meanwhile, Bitcoin slid to its lowest level since US President Donald Trump’s re-election in early November 2024, briefly touching US$72,877 in US trading before clawing back to around US$75,900.

The pullback comes despite a more crypto-friendly White House and growing institutional adoption, reflecting how fragile sentiment remains after months of heavy leverage.

More than US$700 million in bullish and bearish bets were liquidated in the past 24 hours alone, taking total liquidations since January 29 to over US$6.6 billion, according to CoinGlass data.

Burry warns Bitcoin slide could trigger cascading financial stress

In a Substack post published on Monday (February 2), Michael Burry speculated that Bitcoin’s recent sharp decline could be something beyond a normal bear market, framing it as a uniquely dangerous setup that could trigger cascading financial turmoil across leveraged portfolios, as well as the entire crypto market and metals.

As Bitcoin is deeply embedded into leveraged structures, further price drops could force more selling. He outlined several ‘sickening scenarios,’ including 15 to 20 percent hits for large institutional holders like Strategy (NASDAQ:MSTR), a company he predicts could see major losses if Bitcoin were to fall to US$60,000.

If the cryptocurrency were to dip toward US$50,000, Burry said miners could dump reserves to avoid bankruptcy, dragging minerals and tokenized metal futures into a collapse. Burry sees Bitcoin as a purely speculative asset that has failed to act as a reliable debasement hedge like gold, so its drawdown exposes broader balance sheet fragility driven not just by price moves, but also by over‑levered positions, aggressive artificial intelligence and cloud CAPEX accounting and weak capital discipline that will only become apparent when liquidity tightens.

Strategy’s Bitcoin bet goes underwater

Michael Saylor doubled down on his Bitcoin conviction this week even as Strategy’s vast holdings slipped below their average purchase price. Bitcoin’s drop under roughly US$76,000 has pushed the firm’s estimated cost basis into negative territory, leaving it about US$630 million underwater on paper, according to market estimates cited by critics.

The company has accumulated more than 712,000 BTC since 2020 using a mix of share issuance and convertible debt, a strategy that paid off during the bull market, but now faces renewed scrutiny.

Bitcoin critics, including Peter Schiff, argue that Strategy’s aggressive buying helped fuel the earlier rally and that slowing purchases are now exacerbating the decline. Saylor has rejected that view, posting on X that volatility is “Satoshi’s gift to the faithful” and reiterating his rule to “Buy Bitcoin.”

TRM Labs hits US$1 billion valuation

Blockchain intelligence firm TRM Labs has reached a US$1 billion valuation after closing a US$70 million Series C funding round that was led by Blockchain Capital and included backing from Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS), Bessemer Venture Partners, Brevan Howard, Thoma Bravo and Citi Ventures.

Co-founder Esteban Castaño said the company was built around the belief that widespread crypto adoption would inevitably require sophisticated risk and compliance tools.

TRM gained traction with law enforcement agencies and financial institutions by tracking activity across multiple blockchains, an early strategic choice that helped it compete with more established rivals.

Bessent reasserts government Bitcoin stance

During testimony before the House Financial Services Committee during a mandatory oversight hearing on the annual report of the Financial Stability Oversight Council, US Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent reasserted his stance that Bitcoin is an asset of the US government, not a liability, and that the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve built from forfeited coins is a legitimate balance sheet asset that the treasury is treating as part of the nation’s financial toolkit.

Bessent noted that roughly US$500 million in seized Bitcoin retained by the government has appreciated to over US$15 billion while in custody, underscoring Bitcoin’s role as a high‑growth strategic asset on the federal balance sheet.

He reiterated that the US is not planning to buy more Bitcoin on the open market, but will continue to accumulate it in budget‑neutral ways to build the reserve, such as through forfeitures and seizures.

Securities Disclosure: I, Meagen Seatter, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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The architect of Amazon’s supply chain on running a startup with your spouse

For at least two decades, former Amazon executive Dave Clark ended his work week the same way: a standing Friday date night with his wife, Leigh Anne.

Over dinner, the Clarks would talk through the “peak and pit” of their weeks. The ritual often revolved around Amazon, where Clark played a central role in building the logistics infrastructure that helped launch the e-commerce era.

During those years, Leigh Anne was a sounding board for her husband. In the process, she had a front-row seat to Amazon’s growth from what she called “a baby to a behemoth.”

By the time Clark left Amazon in 2022, he was CEO of the Worldwide Consumer division and one of billionaire founder Jeff Bezos’ top lieutenants.

Dave Clark at Auger headquarters Monday.David Jaewon Oh for NBC News

But these days, Fridays for the Clarks look very different.

Their dinner date has morphed into afternoon cocktails — a bourbon with Diet Coke for her and a Manhattan for him. And the conversation isn’t focused on Amazon anymore. It’s about Auger, the supply-chain startup they run together.

In their first joint interview from Auger’s Seattle office, the Clarks described how their marriage and complementary skill sets are shaping the company.

“We’ve been together for so long that we kind of just read each other’s minds,” Leigh Anne said. Working together, she said, “felt like a natural fit.”

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS

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Injured Olympic hockey forward, goalie replaced

Tampa Bay Lightning center Anthony Cirelli, who was injured in the Stadium Series game, will miss the 2026 Winter Olympics.

He was replaced by Team Canada by Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett, who won the Conn Smythe Trophy as 2025 playoff MVP. He is currently day-to-day with an injury.

Cirelli left Sunday’s game after being hit by the Boston Bruins’ Mark Kastelic.

Injured Buffalo Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was also ruled out for the Olympics. He was replaced by Bruins goalie Joonas Korpisalo.

The USA’s Seth Jones (Florida), Sweden’s Jonas Brodin (Minnesota) and Leo Carlsson (Anaheim) and Philadelphia’s Rodrigo Abols (Latvia) earlier were replaced because of injury.

Here are other NHL Olympians who are currently out with injury, with Olympic status to be determined:

USA: Jack Hughes (New Jersey).

Canada: Brayden Point (Tampa Bay), Brad Marchand (Florida), Logan Thompson (Washington).

Sweden: Gabriel Landeskog (Colorado), Elias Lindholm (Boston).

Czechia: Martin Necas (Colorado), Pavel Zacha (Boston).

Finland: Anton Lundell (Florida).

France: Alexandre Texier (Montreal).

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

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Lions fan files $100 million lawsuit after DK Metcalf altercation

Ryan Kennedy – the Detroit Lions fan who was shoved by Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf during an altercation at a Dec. 21 NFL game between the two teams – has filed a new lawsuit in Wayne County Court seeking $100 million in damages.

Kennedy’s lawsuit was filed on Feb. 3, according to the Detroit Free Press of the USA Today Network. The lawsuit names Metcalf, the Steelers, former NFL wide receiver Chad Johnson, Ford Field management and several media platforms for what he alleges is their role in making ‘defamatory and life altering statements’ about him after the incident.

Nine total counts are listed in the lawsuit. Included among those are two counts of defamation against Metcalf, Johnson, Shannon Sharpe’s company, Shay Shay Media, and one count of negligence against Ford Field.

Kennedy is also suing Metcalf for assault and battery and both the Steelers and Ford Field management for their liability in the incident.

‘Defendant Ford Field Management, LLC breached its duty by failing to establish or enforce adequate barriers, protocols, or security measures to prevent players from reaching into the stands and making physical contact with patrons,’ the lawsuit reads.

Kennedy and Metcalf’s altercation took place during the second quarter of the Detroit Lions’ Dec. 21 game against the Steelers. Metcalf was suspended two games for the incident, which saw him take a swipe at Kennedy after a brief conversation between the two.

‘He doesn’t like his government name,’ Kennedy said. ‘I called him that and then he grabbed me and ripped my shirt. I’m a little shocked. Like everyone’s talking to me. I’m a little rattled, but I just want the Lions to win, baby.’

But on Sharpe and Johnson’s ‘Nightcap’ podcast released Dec. 22, Johnson relayed that Metcalf told him Kennedy had used a racial slur against Metcalf and a misogynistic slur aimed at the wide receiver’s mother.

Kennedy steadfastly denied those allegations at a press conference regarding the incident on Dec. 26.

‘I guess want to be crystal clear about one thing: I didn’t use any racial slurs, no hate speech, none of that stuff at the game,’ Kennedy said. ‘Actually, never. Fifteen years as a season ticket holder for the Lions, I’ve never done that at all.’

Kennedy – who is being represented by Jon Marko – continues to deny that allegation in the lawsuit.

‘The statements were false and reckless,’ the lawsuit reads. ‘Plaintiff Kennedy did not call Defendant Metcalf the ‘N-word’; did not call Defendant Metcalf mother a ‘c—‘; and did not ever use any racial slurs or hate speech whatsoever … Defendant Metcalf provided false information to Defendant Johnson about what Plaintiff Kennedy allegedly said, thereby instigating and authorizing the publication of the defamatory and reckless statements which were intended to harm Plaintiff Kennedy.’

In addition to the $100 million Kennedy is seeking in damages, he is also seeking a ‘full public retraction and correction of defamatory statements’ from Johnson and Sharpe.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

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