Former NFL kicker Jay Feely has apologized for a picture that shows him holding a gun next to his daughter and her prom date
A former NFL kicker has apologized for posting a picture that showed him holding a gun while posing with his daughter and her prom date.
Jay Feely, 41, posted the image to Twitter on Saturday, writing: ‘Wishing my beautiful daughter and her date a great time at prom #BadBoys’.
The picture caused controversy, with many calling it irresponsible and insensitive amidst of the current heated debate on gun control following tragedies such as the Parkland and Las Vegas shootings.
The father-of-four, from Arizona, said on Twitter on Sunday: ‘The prom picture I posted was obviously intended to be a joke. My Daughter has dated her boyfriend for over a year and they knew I was joking.
‘I take gun safety seriously (the gun was not loaded and had no clip in) and I did not intend to be insensitive to that important issue.’
It appears Feely was referencing a scene from the film Bad Boys II with Will Smith and Martin Lawrence.
Feely seemed to be referencing a scene from the film Bad Boys II with Will Smith and Martin Lawrence
Feely spent 14 years in the NFL, playing for the Chicago Bears, the Giants, the Dolphins and the Jets. He is pictured right with former teammate Tom Brady
Still, many Twitter users took issue with the joke they felt was innapproprate.
One user said: ‘It’s a joke and yet women who experience domestic violence are 500 times more likely to die if the man has a gun. So. Yeah. It’s cool to make jokes out of guns and not treat them as the actual weapons they are. It is a very twisted culture to find this comical.’
Another added: ‘He is also apparently sending a message that he owns his daughter, and this kid better not trespass on his “property”‘.
‘He is also apparently sending a message that he owns his daughter, and this kid better not trespass on his “property,”‘ said on Twitter user who took issue with Feely’s post
Feely said: ‘I take gun safety seriously (the gun was not loaded and had no clip in) and I did not intend to be insensitive to that important issue’
As pointed out by the New York Daily News, Feely said in 2015 he’s in favor of basic gun control such as mandatory waiting periods, background checks and limits on those with mental health issues or on watch lists.
Feely spent 14 years in the NFL, playing for the Chicago Bears, the New York Giants, the Miami Dolphins and the New York Jets.
He now works as a sports analyst for CBS.