Two ESPN hosts are walking back explosive accusations against the Louisiana State Police. Scott Van Pelt and Ryan Clark apologized this week after claiming law enforcement framed former LSU wide receiver Kyren Lacy. The statements came after police released evidence contradicting their on-air narrative about the fatal December 2024 car crash.
The apologies came after Monday night’s SportsCenter segment, where Ryan Clark called Lacy “innocent” and accused police of manipulating evidence. On Tuesday, police released a video with surveillance footage and witness statements supporting the charges against Lacy. The evidence contradicted what Clark and Van Pelt had presented.
Scott Van Pelt Apologizes for Airing Unverified Claims About Police in Kyren Lacy Case
For the unversed, the controversy started with Lacy’s attorney. Last week, Matthew Ory appeared on Louisiana television claiming his client was over 70 yards behind the crash when it happened. Ory released video showing a state trooper allegedly pressuring a witness to implicate Lacy’s green Dodge Charger in the December 17, 2024, crash that killed 78-year-old Herman Hall.
Clark appeared on SportsCenter after the Chiefs-Jaguars Monday Night Football game and ripped into Louisiana State Police. He claimed Lacy was investigating for something he didn’t do and died carrying the guilt of false charges.
Then, on Tuesday morning, state police dropped their response with an 11-minute video showing Lacy passing multiple cars in a no-passing zone just before the crash. Witness statements taken immediately after the accident said his reckless driving contributed to the collision.
The 59-year-old host didn’t make it late to offer an apology on Wednesday night. “The one certainty here is that this was a senseless tragedy in December, magnified by a second life lost in April,” he said. “I apologize for the incomplete reaction that aired on this show Monday night.”
“The one certainty here is that this was a senseless tragedy in December, magnified by a second life lost in April. I apologize for the incomplete reaction that aired on this show Monday night.” – Scott Van Pelt pic.twitter.com/Rm6Qv0zDIv
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) October 9, 2025
The former LSU star was found dead in Harris County, Texas, following a police pursuit after an alleged altercation with a family member. His death came two days before a scheduled grand jury hearing on negligent homicide and hit-and-run charges.
Van Pelt’s apology marked a rare retreat because the segment aired relying solely on the attorney’s statements, without further fact-checking or editorial review. But normally, his show typically avoids making inflammatory claims against law enforcement without solid verification.
Ryan Clark Issues Full Mea Culpa on First Take
ESPN analyst Ryan Clark apologized Thursday on “First Take” for comments he made earlier in the week about Kyren Lacy and the fatal December car crash. The clarification is seriously needed, as some have already started taunting him over unverified claims.
“In full transparency y’all, I knew Kyren Lacy personally. But nothing matters to me more than the truth. I always strive to do my best to mix authenticity with the most complete and up-to-date information available,” the former NFL defensive back said.
“I knew Kyren Lacy personally…it’s always important to me that I gather all factual and important information to provide the complete story…and when discussed in real time on Monday evening, I failed to do so. And for that, I apologize.” – Ryan Clark pic.twitter.com/QnooNsHGND
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) October 9, 2025
He added, “I failed to do that on Monday night based on the subsequent evidence that has been released by the Louisiana State Police Department. I set the highest standards of fairness, and most importantly, righteousness in my work. I didn’t meet that standard.”
The 45-year-old former Pittsburgh Steelers safety explained his personal connection to Lacy, which likely triggered his initial response. On Monday night, his comments focused solely on clearing Lacy, without acknowledging Hall or the broader complexity of the investigation.
