Scott Van Pelt has issued an on-air apology following criticism of his response to colleague Ryan Clark’s emotional comments about the late LSU wide receiver Kyren Lacy.
The SportsCenter host admitted Wednesday night, October 8, that his reaction earlier in the week amplified an incomplete version of events surrounding Lacy’s death and the fatal crash he was charged with last year.
The apology came after Van Pelt’s broadcast on Monday, October 6, where he punctuated Clark’s defense of Lacy with a vocal “Amen.”
At the time, Clark asserted that Lacy was wrongfully accused in the December 2024 crash that killed 78-year-old Herman Hall in Chackbay, Louisiana. Clark claimed that police manipulated evidence and that Lacy, who died by suicide in April, carried the weight of false accusations until his death.
“Late last week, the attorney for former LSU football player Kyren Lacy released a video challenging the version of events that Louisiana State Police used to cite Lacy in a December auto accident, which claimed the life of 78-year-old Herman Hall,” Van Pelt said during his on-air statement Wednesday.
The statement continued: “On Tuesday, State Police released video and records defending their initial findings, which alleged that Lacy’s operation of his vehicle created the chain of events that resulted in the crash that claimed Hall’s life. Lacy’s car is seen traveling at a high rate of speed in the wrong lane just prior to the incident. Lacy faced several charges, including felony negligent homicide, but died by suicide days before a grand jury was set to convene — meaning his guilt or innocence will never be determined in a criminal court. 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.”
Lacy, a standout receiver who led LSU in touchdown catches in 2024 and declared for the 2025 NFL Draft, was charged with negligent homicide, felony hit-and-run, and reckless operation following the December crash.
Police said he had been speeding and passing in a no-passing zone when another vehicle swerved and collided head-on with a second car, killing Hall. Authorities alleged Lacy fled the scene before later turning himself in.
In April, just two days before a Louisiana grand jury was scheduled to hear the case, Lacy died by suicide in Houston during a police pursuit. Investigators said he shot himself before crashing his vehicle. He was 24 years old.
The release of video evidence by Lacy’s attorney, Matthew Ory, last week, reignited debate over the case. Ory argued that Lacy was more than 70 yards behind the vehicles at the time of impact and could not have directly caused the collision.
Louisiana State Police countered with additional footage and a statement reaffirming their findings that Lacy’s reckless driving set the chain of events in motion.
Van Pelt’s apology came after criticism from fans online who accused ESPN of failing to fact-check Clark’s remarks.
Fellow ESPN personality Pat McAfee also walked back his earlier comments, repeating the disputed claims, acknowledging he spoke too soon.
Clark, as of now, has not publicly addressed the new video or law enforcement’s rebuttal.
If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, call or text 988 to connect with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Help is available 24/7.