Austin Metcalf's Father Speaks Out, Plus False Karmelo Anthony Narratives, and Blake Lively Legal Fees Ruling, with Mark Geragos and Arthur Aidala | Ep. 1338
Episode of The Megyn Kelly Show · June 12, 2026 · 1 h 42 min
Megyn Kelly fact-checks Karmelo Anthony's parents, interviews Austin Metcalf's father Jeff, then discusses the case, the Lively–Baldoni fee ruling and Nick Reiner with Mark Geragos and Arthur Aidala.
Summary
Megyn Kelly opened the episode with a fact-check of post-verdict claims made by Karmelo Anthony's parents in media interviews. She disputed their assertions that Hunter Metcalf lied about his twin dying in his arms, that the jury was all white, that witnesses were inconsistent, and that Anthony merely sought a hug after the stabbing, citing trial testimony and courtroom reporting. She argued Anthony did not testify because he would have made a poor witness and criticized the family, its spokesperson Dominique Alexander, and interviewers who failed to challenge them.
Jeff Metcalf, Austin's father, described the harassment, swatting and daily death threats his family has received since the verdict, clarified that it was friends of his sons, not the family, who were confronted by activists outside the courthouse, and said he condemned vile memes aimed at either child. He said no one from the Anthony family had ever apologized, praised Hunter's composure during his victim impact statement, and remembered Austin as a compassionate leader of faith.
In the Kelly's Court segment, Mark Geragos and Arthur Aidala discussed why the defense never truly presented a viable self-defense case, the significance of Anthony not testifying, and the prosecution's strikes of three Black jurors who were teachers. Geragos argued trials are decided in jury selection and that prosecutors should lack peremptory challenges; Aidala considered the Batson-type argument a weak appellate issue, and both described ineffective-assistance claims as a high bar.
The panel then addressed Judge Lewis Liman's ruling that Justin Baldoni must pay Blake Lively's fees for defending his defamation claim under California's Section 47.1, while denying punitive or trebled damages; Geragos predicted insurers would pay and called the saga a self-inflicted wound for Lively. After a brief exchange about the New York Knicks' comeback, they discussed Nick Reiner's bid to access a $1.5 million trust for his murder defense, which Geragos expected a judge to allow to spare taxpayers.
Chapters
- 0:00
Opening and harassment of the Metcalf family
Kelly introduced the episode and described attacks on the Metcalf family following Karmelo Anthony's guilty verdict.
- 1:14
Fact-checking the 'died in his arms' claim
Kelly rebutted the Anthony parents' claim that Hunter Metcalf lied, playing Hunter's account and citing trial testimony.
- 5:57
The 'all-white jury' and witness consistency claims
Kelly disputed claims of an all-white jury and inconsistent witnesses using juror demographics and courtroom reporting.
- 11:20
The hug claim, silence on the stand, and the defense lawyer
Kelly argued Anthony was physically stopped from fleeing, questioned why he did not testify, and criticized his attorney Mike Howard and the use of fundraising money.
- 26:33
Interview with Jeff Metcalf
Jeff Metcalf reacted to the verdict, condemned attacks on both families, and criticized the Anthony family and spokesperson Dominique Alexander.
- 41:58
Death threats, Hunter, and remembering Austin
Metcalf described daily threats, praised Hunter's courtroom composure, and remembered Austin's character and faith.
- 51:24
Kelly's Court: self-defense and not testifying
Geragos and Aidala analyzed why the defense lacked a viable self-defense argument and the role of jury selection.
- 1:05:42
Prosecution strikes of Black jurors
The panel debated whether striking three Black teachers from the jury was race-based and whether prosecutors should have peremptory challenges.
- 1:14:14
Appeal prospects and ineffective assistance
The lawyers assessed the appeal, including ineffective-assistance claims and the defendant's right to testify.
- 1:23:36
Lively–Baldoni legal fees ruling
The panel discussed Judge Liman's award of attorney's fees to Blake Lively under Section 47.1 and denial of punitive damages.
- 1:36:05
Knicks comeback and Taylor Swift
Kelly and guests discussed the Knicks' comeback at Madison Square Garden and Taylor Swift's attendance.
- 1:38:10
Nick Reiner's trust fund bid
Geragos and Aidala discussed Nick Reiner's attempt to access his trust to fund his murder defense.
Key points
What was said, by whom, with the exact words. Timestamps jump to the moment.
- Megyn Kelly
Kelly stated that the jury was not all white, citing Fox News Digital's report of three racial minorities among the twelve jurors.
“According to Fox News Digital, of the 12 jurors, there were three racial minorities, including Asian and Indian”
Listen from 6:17 · Peremptory challenges and race in jury selection
- Megyn Kelly
Kelly argued Karmelo Anthony's 35-year sentence was lenient given parole eligibility.
“He is so lucky that he got only 35 years and could be eligible for parole in 17”
- Megyn Kelly
Kelly argued Anthony would have testified had he been a compelling witness, implying he was kept off the stand because he would have been a poor one.
“There is zero chance if Carmelo Anthony would have made a compelling witness, if he really were the sweet kid just running around looking for hugs”
- Jeff Metcalf
Jeff Metcalf said vile memes had targeted both his son and Karmelo Anthony and that he condemned all of it.
“That has went on from both sides, and I don't condone any of it”
- Jeff Metcalf
Jeff Metcalf said that in the Anthonys' position he would have held his son accountable and apologized to the victim's family.
“I would hold my son accountable. I would make him apologize”
- Jeff Metcalf
Jeff Metcalf said his home and his ex-wife's home had been targeted by swatting.
“My house has been swatted. My ex-wives have been swatted”
- Jeff Metcalf
Jeff Metcalf argued an appeal would not bring new evidence, since appellate courts only review procedure and due process.
“All the appeal court does is make sure procedures were followed correctly and there was nothing that was done to interfere with due process”
Linked moment · 51:24Skip to 51:24 using a listen link in the info box.
Arthur AidalaAidala said he had never tried a self-defense case in which the defendant did not testify.
“I've never tried a self-defense case where the defendant didn't testify and talked about why he had to act the way he did in self-defense”
- Mark Geragos
Geragos said he never viewed the case as a true self-defense case but rather one of excessive force aimed at a manslaughter reduction.
“this did not strike me ever as a self-defense case yes you invoke self-defense but it was always going to be based on what was reported”
- Mark Geragos
Geragos argued that the absence of African Americans on the jury effectively predetermined the verdict.
“When you don't have in jury selection African-Americans on that jury, it's preordained what your verdict's going to be”
Listen from 59:11 · Peremptory challenges and race in jury selection
- Mark Geragos
Geragos argued prosecutors, who bear the burden of proof, should not be allowed peremptory challenges at all.
“I've always thought the prosecutors shouldn't even have a peremptory”
Listen from 1:06:56 · Peremptory challenges and race in jury selection
- Arthur Aidala
Aidala said the teachers' strike had a race-neutral rationale and was not a strong appellate issue for the defense.
“That's why I don't think this is a strong appellate issue for the defense”
- Megyn Kelly
Kelly argued an ineffective-assistance claim would fail because it requires showing better counsel would have changed the outcome in an open-and-shut case.
“you have to prove that if you had a Garagos or a Dala in there, the result would have been different, right?”
- Megyn Kelly
Kelly said the architect of Section 47.1, Victoria Burke, opposed Blake Lively's use of the law.
“Her name is Victoria Burke, and she was very against this law being used by Blake Lively”
- Mark Geragos
Geragos said the fee award would not be paid by Baldoni personally but fought over by insurance companies.
“it's not going to come out of justin baldoni's pocket this is all going to it's going to be a fight between the insurance companies over who's going to pay this”
- Arthur Aidala
Aidala said he generally supports fee-shifting laws because they deter frivolous lawsuits.
“I think it should be done more often because it would prevent frivolous lawsuits”
- Mark Geragos
Geragos described Lively's litigation as a self-inflicted reputational disaster, comparing it to the Streisand effect.
“never has somebody so lit themselves on fire and for absolutely no reason”
- Arthur Aidala
Aidala said the Knicks' playoff run had significantly boosted New York's economy, including bars and restaurants.
“What it has done for the New York economy, this mix run has been fantastic”
- Mark Geragos
Geragos predicted a judge would free up Nick Reiner's trust money because it would relieve taxpayers of paying for his public defense.
“if I free up money here from the trust, you pay Alan Jackson, that's going to be a zero sum game of money that we don't have to pay as taxpayers”
People
In the conversation
- Megyn KellyConservative broadcaster and podcaster
- Jeff MetcalfFather of Austin Metcalf, the 17-year-old killed at a Frisco, Texas track meet
- Mark GeragosAmerican criminal defense attorney who represented Michael Jackson; co-host of In the Well
- Arthur AidalaNew York defense attorney, former prosecutor, and host of the Arthur Aidala Power Hour
Discussed
- Karmelo AnthonyTexas teen on trial for the fatal stabbing of Austin Metcalf
- Austin Metcalf17-year-old Texas football player killed at a track meet in 2025
- Dominique AlexanderTexas activist serving as spokesperson for the Anthony family
- Mike HowardKarmelo Anthony's trial defense attorney
- Victoria BurkeAttorney, adjunct law professor at Southwestern Law School, and architect of California's Speak Your Truth Act
- Justin BaldoniAmerican actor and director of It Ends With Us
- Blake LivelyAmerican actress who sued Justin Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios
- Lewis J. LimanU.S. district judge presiding over the Lively case
- Bryan FreedmanAttorney for Baldoni and Megyn Kelly
- Ryan ReynoldsActor and husband of Blake Lively
- Nick ReinerSon of Rob and Michele Reiner, accused of killing his parents
- Rob ReinerFilm director allegedly killed by his son
- Mark O'MaraDefense attorney for George Zimmerman
- George ZimmermanDefendant acquitted in the killing of Trayvon Martin
- Taylor SwiftAmerican singer-songwriter cited as an example of public love-and-hate cycles
Topics
- Killing of Austin Metcalf
- Peremptory challenges and race in jury selection
- Self-defense in criminal trials
- Ineffective assistance of counsel
- Lively v. Wayfarer Studios
- California Civil Code section 47.1
- Nick Reiner murder case
- Online harassment of the Metcalf family
- Karmelo Anthony appeal
- New York Knicks
- Harvey Weinstein trials
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From the publisher
Megyn Kelly delivers an extensive fact-check of all the lies from Karmelo Anthony's parents after the verdict, the fake racial narrative being pushed by supporters and activists, the family's refusal to show real remorse over Austin Metcalf's murder, and more. Then Jeff Metcalf, Austin Metcalf's father, joins to discuss the racial attacks and harassment his family has faced since the verdict, the disturbing behavior of some Karmelo Anthony supporters, why he wants all people to be part of the solution and not the problem in our culture, the death threats he and his family have faced after the verdict, the false narratives and lies being spread about his son, how his family is doing in this moment, and more. Then Mark Geragos, host of "In The Well," and Arthur Aidala, host of "Arthur Aidala Power Hour," join to discuss why the Karmelo Anthony defense failed to present a viable self-defense argument, the importance of Anthony not testifying in his own defense, the truth about jury selection and whether there was racial bias in this case, the breaking news that Justin Baldoni was ordered to pay Blake Lively's legal fees, the judge dismissing Lively's attempt at punitive damages, Nick Reiner's attempt to access his family trust to pay for his legal defense, the unusual legal questions surrounding this effort when he's on trial for murdering his parents, and more. Subscribe to MK True Crime to find ALL the shows: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mk-true-crime/id1829831499 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4o80I2RSC2NvY51TIaKkJW YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MKTrueCrime?sub_confirmation=1 Social: http://mktruecrime.com/ Aidala- https://am970theanswer.com/radioshow/the-arthur-aidala-power-hour Cozy Earth: This Father's Day, visit https://www.CozyEarth.com & Use code MEGYN for up to 20% off Relief Factor: Reclaim your mobility and celebrate your freedom from aches this year by grabbing your $17.76 3-week QuickStart at https://ReliefFactor.com or by cal…
Summary, chapters and key points were generated from the episode transcript on September 29, 2026. Quotes are checked word for word against the transcript.