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Alex Murdaugh's lawyers withdraw request for civilian clothes, accuse prosecutors of creating a 'spectacle'
Alex Murdaugh’s lawyers say prosecutors are trying to turn his next courtroom appearance into a spectacle.
The convicted former Lowcountry lawyer had asked to appear unshackled and in civilian clothes at trial and in televised pretrial hearings as he awaits a new murder trial in the killings of his wife, Maggie, and son, Paul.
But after prosecutors accused him of seeking special treatment, Murdaugh’s defense team withdrew the request, saying they would not waste court time arguing over "the optics" of a status conference.
"If the State wants to use that for a public spectacle, so be it," the defense wrote. "Mr. Murdaugh will not waste the Court’s time at the upcoming status conference arguing about the optics."
South Carolina prosecutors had urged a Colleton County judge to deny the motion, arguing that Murdaugh’s fame does not entitle him to be treated differently from other inmates.
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Murdaugh remains in state custody on financial-crime convictions and is serving a 27-year sentence, prosecutors said. He is also serving a concurrent 40-year federal sentence tied to similar crimes.
His murder convictions were reversed in May by the South Carolina Supreme Court, which ordered new proceedings after finding improper interference by the former Colleton County Clerk of Court Rebecca "Becky" Hill.
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But the state said the reversal does not change Murdaugh’s status as an inmate or the security concerns surrounding him.
"SCDC’s practice and position here is that any inmate should remain in restraints and in uniform for court appearances," prosecutors wrote, adding that Murdaugh’s long sentence, the seriousness of the murder charges and his notoriety all heighten security concerns.
The state also pointed to past custody issues, alleging that during the original trial, a family member passed Murdaugh a book through a defense staffer without law enforcement’s knowledge.
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Prosecutors said the book was later found in his cell and led to a jail contraband warrant. They also cited two prison disciplinary actions from August 2023, including abuse of privileges and unauthorized use of another inmate’s PIN.
WHAT TYLER ROBINSON'S DEFENSE WANTS HIDDEN AND WHY PROSECUTORS AND MEDIA SAY NO IN COURT
"This case is ultimately about the fact that Defendant thinks he is special. He is not," prosecutors wrote.
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Murdaugh’s lawyers fired back, accusing prosecutors of "histrionics" and arguing that the state had failed to show any special need to display him in shackles before potential jurors.
They said Murdaugh has never threatened or attempted escape or violence while in custody and has appeared at numerous hearings and through a six-week trial without disruptive behavior.
The defense also argued that courts recognize the danger of showing defendants in restraints, even outside a jury’s physical presence, when cameras could broadcast the image to future jurors.
To make the point, Murdaugh’s lawyers cited the case against Tyler Robinson, the alleged assassin of Charlie Kirk, saying the judge there ordered cameras repositioned after reports Robinson had been shown in shackles and warned they could be excluded if it happened again.
The defense accused prosecutors of relying on rhetoric rather than law, writing that the case is not about whether Murdaugh "thinks" he is special, but whether the state can prove the murder charges against him.
Still, Murdaugh’s lawyers withdrew the motion, saying they did not want to distract from more substantive issues ahead of retrial, including motions involving unknown DNA from the crime scene, access to case materials and a possible venue change.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the prosecutor's office as well as Murdaugh's defense team.
Married Brazilian soccer president accused of World Cup affair & is she hooking up with her sugar daddy again?
Welcome to the latest edition of True Romance. We've caught World Cup fever, sort of. What we've actually caught is the "a soccer president is allegedly caught up in an affair scandal" fever.
It's a slightly different fever, and I'd argue a more entertaining one. I don’t think there's any debate about that. There's no running around all afternoon without any scoring with steamy affair allegations.
What we have is a married president of a soccer organization accused of using funds to allegedly fly his mistress to New York before he traveled to Mexico City and met up with his wife before the World Cup opening ceremony.
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We're also going to take a look at a man who believes that his unemployed pretend influencer girlfriend who is always walking around with a bunch of cash might be sleeping with her sugar daddy again.
Who knows where he's getting that idea?
We're going to get into that and find ourselves in the most erotic things anyone has ever said to people. Plus, we have a few emails this week. Evidently, a couple getting it on while riding a Ferris wheel at a music festival was worthy of emails.
Go follow True Romance on Twitter and Facebook. Send your emails here: sean.joseph@outkick.com (anonymously if you prefer).
Was love in the air in New York for married Brazilian Football Confederation President Samir Xaud and a mistress prior to the World Cup’s opening ceremony? That’s what’s being alleged. I don't know that we're going to get to the bottom of it, but I do know we're going to take the journey through this together.
The Brazilian outlet Portal Leo Dias reports that the 42-year-old was seen out wining and dining in Manhattan with a fitness entrepreneur days before the World Cup got underway, according to the NY Post.
In addition to the wining and dining allegations, the fitness entrepreneur is alleged to have stayed at a four-star hotel for eight days in a room booked under Xaud’s name. The outlet also claims that the two were seen leaving the restaurant in a vehicle rented by the federation for Xaud’s trip.
The early June trip to New York came to an end when the Brazilian soccer president is alleged to have left the fitness entrepreneur for a return trip to Brazil before making his way to Mexico City, where he met up with his wife of more than 20 years, Natalia, for the World Cup’s opening ceremony.
I know exactly what you’re thinking so far. Can’t a guy do some traveling and have friends without facing extramarital affair accusations or claims of inappropriate use of funds on personal trips?
You would think so, but people are always trying to connect dots about one thing or another, aren’t they?
'WORLD'S SEXIEST FAN' DROPS HER WORLD CUP ANTHEM AND HERE'S WHY YOU NEVER ASSIST A BIKE THIEF
This isn’t the end of the allegations against Xaud. Portal Leo Dias alleges that he did this sort of thing before, in December 2025, when he sent a model/influencer to Qatar for a FIFA Intercontinental World Cup match at the federation's expense.
The Brazilian Football Confederation denied the allegations regarding the misuse of funds. Whether this is a case of a man who loves too much or someone on a mission to grow the game in his country isn’t known.
It could be a little of both. What I do know is that it’s done the unthinkable and brought the World Cup to True Romance. I never saw that coming.
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A man is being hit in the face with a ton of evidence that his girlfriend has done the unthinkable and has either started sleeping with her sugar daddy again or found a new one. He doesn’t want to believe it.
He's in love. She says that she's in love. This "wonderful woman" with whom he has a "red hot" sex life might be involved with older men who she sleeps with to fund her lifestyle.
Is that a dealbreaker? Well, his hesitancy to bring the subject up with her says a lot. He's done the math on the secret phones, the loads of cash, the designer clothes and the fact that she's unemployed.
"Sometimes she takes off for places like Paris and New York to ‘see friends’ but I’ve never met any of these mystery friends. I fear she’s sleeping with her sugar daddy again," he wrote to the Daily Star.
"What other explanation can there be?"
There could be several different answers to that question. Does it have to equal she's banging a sugar daddy? She could be flying all over the world to serve as the woman who lures men unknowingly into having their organs removed, for example.
So her best friend told you that while she lived in Spain she had an older man who showered her with gifts and gave her a taste of the good life in exchange for her company and sex?
You also know that they officially went their separate ways when she met you. Yet here you are "convinced that she’s contacted him – or someone like him - and that I’m being made a fool of."
Does it bother you that she still likes nice things? Or that she tells people she makes a living as an influencer? Have you tried being happy for her? She wants nice things and she has them.
Did you forget the part where "she swears she loves" you? It sounds like you have.
"I know I should front her up, but I’m just too scared to hear the truth. What if she dumps me because I’ve dared to bring things to a head?"
Words like pathetic and weak probably popped in your head when you read that last statement from this guy. That's probably a contributing factor. I'm not going to pretend it isn't.
But I'm also a hopeless romantic with a glass-half-full approach. What if this is all a test? What if she's an heiress who thinks he's the one and is testing him? What if he fails?
Is a lifetime of living comfortably worth losing if it turns out she's not an heiress and she's just hooking up with a sugar daddy? That isn't for me to answer. He has to figure that one out for himself.
Now to a topic that I think is near and dear to most of us. We've all been on the receiving end of an erotic line or two. Whether it was from a co-worker or a homeless lady with three teeth, you remember those moments.
It could be a compliment about your looks, your smell or even a low percentage on a fixed-rate mortgage that gives you that feeling of excitement. A wow that hit me in a way I wasn’t expecting.
Here are a few of those from the unwashed on Reddit:
- Anonymous writes:
I read your recent piece about the couple at the Download Festival and had to laugh. Calling it "romantic" is certainly one way to frame it, but let’s be honest it’s just public indecency. Whether they thought the glass was tinted or not, they chose to engage in that behavior in a public space where families and other concert-goers were just trying to enjoy the show. It’s not "setting the mood" for Guns N' Roses; it’s just inconsiderate. I hope the police hold them accountable, if only to discourage others from thinking public spaces are their private playrooms.
SeanJo
Talk about a buzzkill. I get that there's a time and a place, but sometimes romance can't be contained and if you're bringing your family out to Guns N' Roses that's on you.
- Anonymous writes:
Regarding the story about the man who received a naked photo from his best friend’s wife: the advice given in your column to "see how far she’s willing to take it" is incredibly destructive. This man is currently in a position where he could save his friendship and protect a marriage by setting a firm boundary and telling his best friend exactly what happened. Encouraging him to play along and "make a complete mess of everything" isn't "romance", it’s toxic. He should delete the photo, block the woman, and have a serious conversation with his friend before someone’s life is permanently ruined by a "test of the water."
SeanJo
I can't believe there are this many people walking around in their everyday lives without the ability to identify when someone is joking. It's insane.
- Anonymous writes:
I had to chuckle after reading your coverage of the couple on the Ferris wheel. Honestly, I think the internet (and the authorities) need to take a breath. People go to these massive festivals to escape the humdrum of their daily lives, and sometimes that includes a bit of spontaneous, rebellious fun.
It actually reminded me of a night I had at Lollapalooza a few years back. My partner and I were caught up in the absolute euphoria of a late-night set near the edge of the grounds. We weren't doing anything as bold as a Ferris wheel, but we definitely crossed the line of "proper" public etiquette in a dark corner of the lawn.
Looking back, it’s one of my favorite memories of that trip not because we were trying to shock anyone, but because, in that specific moment, the energy of the music just made us feel like the only two people in the world.
Are people going to get caught? Sure. Is it a little risky? Absolutely. But festivals are supposed to be wild, unconventional, and a break from the societal norm. As long as they aren't causing a scene or hurting anyone, I say let the "romantic rebels" have their moment. It’s a lot better than the alternative of people being bored and miserable at a show.
SeanJo
This emailer gets it. There are still people out there with a sense of humor. That gives me hope for humanity and for weekly columns such as this one.
-------------
That's it. June is in the books. I'll see you next Thursday in July. Feel free to reach out, anonymously if you prefer, at sean.joseph@outkick.com. Send me whatever you want. I get plenty of hate mail as it is and yours will be a welcomed addition to the pile.
Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce wedding betting frenzy reveals one overwhelming prediction
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce haven't confirmed a single wedding detail, but that hasn't stopped bettors from putting millions on what could be the biggest celebrity ceremony in years.
With speculation reaching a frenzy, prediction markets are revealing where gamblers think the couple will say, "I do," who will score an invite — and the one outcome they're betting almost certainly won't happen.
While bettors are divided over where the couple will marry and who will make the guest list, there's one prediction with overwhelming consensus: Swift is almost certainly not pregnant.
Polymarket bettors have poured more than $2 million into the market, and only 2% believe she's already expecting.
While bettors appear nearly unanimous when it comes to the possibility of Swift being pregnant, the money doesn't stop there.
An additional $2 million has been wagered on Kalshi over where Swift and Kelce will tie the knot, with New York emerging as the overwhelming favorite. Roughly 75% of bettors expect the Empire State to host the ceremony, and more than half of those predict the couple will exchange vows at Madison Square Garden, according to Vanity Fair.
Twenty-five percent of bettors believe Swift and Kelce will get married at her home in Rhode Island.
TAYLOR SWIFT, TRAVIS KELCE NUPTIALS CALLED A 'ROYAL WEDDING' BY NFL PALS DROPPING MAJOR TIMING HINTS
While people continue to place their bets, an entertainment industry executive confirmed to The New York Times that a multi-day event was set to take over Madison Square Garden, which was rented by Swift, beginning July 2. The festivities will reportedly kick off with an intimate gathering of about 100 people before a much larger celebration for roughly 1,000 guests on July 3.
The July 3 celebration may include stage performances, according to the outlet's sources.
Two NYPD officers patrolling Madison Square Garden on June 24 confirmed to Variety that they had been warned about a possible influx of Swift fans and paparazzi during the alleged wedding weekend.
The speculation doesn't end at the altar. Bettors are also putting money on who will land coveted spots in the wedding party.
Abigail Anderson, Swift's best friend since high school, leads the bridesmaid predictions, with 92% of bettors expecting she'll be part of the bridal party. Ashley Avignone, Gigi Hadid, Este Haim and Kylie Kelce also rank among the favorites. On Kelce's side, brother Jason Kelce, Patrick Mahomes and Swift's younger brother, Austin, are widely expected to make the cut.
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Kalshi users are also trying to predict who will – and won't – receive one of the year's hottest invitations.
An overwhelming majority of users don't believe Blake Lively received an invite. Roughly three-quarters of bettors believe the actress didn't make the guest list following the legal drama surrounding Justin Baldoni's lawsuit, which pulled Swift into the dispute through unsealed text messages.
Harry Styles also isn't expected to attend, despite his engagement to Swift's longtime friend Zoë Kravitz.
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As for those expected to make the cut, longtime friend and producer Jack Antonoff tops the list, followed by Patrick and Brittany Mahomes, Selena Gomez and fiancé Benny Blanco, the Haim sisters and fellow pop stars Sabrina Carpenter and Gracie Abrams.
Neither Swift nor Kelce has publicly commented on the latest wedding rumors, but that hasn't stopped fans from scrutinizing every potential clue.
Mercury's now-deleted social media post mocking Caitlin Clark draws scrutiny after star's injury
The Phoenix Mercury appeared to think Wednesday night was a good time to mock WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark.
Then, apparently, the team thought better of it.
Screenshots circulating on X appeared to show the Mercury’s official account posting a meme after Phoenix’s 111-109 win over the Indiana Fever that included a cartoon player lying on the floor with the caption, "DE-WANNA PIECE OF THIS?!?"
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The post appeared to be a play on DeWanna Bonner’s name. Bonner, of course, is now with the Mercury after a brief stint with the Fever last season, and the two teams have already had plenty of tension this week.
That timing was notable because of a particularly ugly sequence during Wednesday night's game.
Midway through the second quarter, Clark ended up on the floor after trying to drive to the basket. As players scrambled for the ball, Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas appeared to drive her knee into Clark’s thigh and press her fist into the Fever star's neck and throat area. Many, including Indiana head coach Stephanie White, labeled the play a blatant cheap shot.
No fouls were assessed on the play at the time. On Thursday, the WNBA announced Thomas had received a Flagrant Foul 2 penalty and a one-game suspension following postgame review. The league said Thomas was disciplined for what it described as "recklessly making contact with her fist to the throat area" of Clark and said the incident was deemed a non-basketball act.
Later in Wednesday's contest, Clark was fouled by Valeriane Ayayi on a 3-point attempt. Officials reviewed the play but did not upgrade it to a flagrant foul. Clark grabbed at her back afterward and later left the game and did not return. She finished with 19 points and eight assists in 20 minutes before exiting.
CAITLIN CLARK EXITS EARLY WITH BACK ISSUE AS FEVER FALL TO MERCURY
After the game, White went off on the league's officiating.
"We have a generational talent and a WNBA superstar who had two cheap shots right there that weren’t called," White said after the game.
She called the no-call involving Thomas "absolutely egregious and utterly disrespectful" and called the treatment of Clark "absolutely unacceptable."
That context matters when examining the alleged post from the Mercury’s official account. Many professional sports teams, across all leagues, have adopted a more confrontational style on social media.
But there's a line that shouldn't be crossed. If the Mercury's post meant what it appeared to mean, the official team account could be read as mocking Clark after she took contact the league later deemed worthy of a Flagrant Foul 2 and suspension.
The post is no longer visible, suggesting someone inside the organization realized that maybe this wasn’t the best idea.
OutKick reached out to the Mercury to ask whether the post was authentic, who approved it, why it was deleted, whether the organization believed it was appropriate and whether anyone internally would be held accountable or whether the team would review its social media approval process.
The Mercury did not respond to OutKick’s request for comment by the deadline.
WNBA WANTS A BIGGER STORY THAN CAITLIN CLARK, BUT TV RATINGS KEEP POINTING BACK TO HER
OutKick also reached out to the WNBA to ask whether the league had any comment on the post and whether it had contacted the Mercury about the post or its deletion.
The WNBA did not respond to OutKick’s questions about the alleged post by the deadline. The league’s separate Thursday announcement disciplining Thomas did not address the Mercury post.
OutKick also asked the Fever for a response to the post and whether the organization had contacted the Mercury or the WNBA about the post, the plays White referenced or broader concerns about player safety and officiating.
The Fever did not respond to OutKick’s request for comment by the deadline.
Wednesday’s game came just two days after another physical matchup between the Fever and Mercury. In that game, officials handed out six technical fouls to five players, including Clark, Thomas and Bonner, and Fever forward Myisha Hines-Allen was ejected after her second.
So, this wasn't a normal midweek regular-season game between two teams with no history.
The Fever and Mercury had already created a storyline. Bonner’s connection to Indiana only added another layer. Clark, as always, brought plenty of attention.
And that is the part the WNBA continues to struggle with.
Clark has brought a level of attention to the league that it has never had. That attention comes with higher ratings, bigger crowds, more conversation and more scrutiny.
It also means moments like this don’t just disappear because a social media post gets deleted.
It also means fans deserve answers.
Who approved the post?
Why was it deleted?
And if it was harmless, why not leave it up?
The Mercury should answer those questions.
And while the WNBA has now punished Thomas, the league still should answer why officials missed the play in real time and whether it views the alleged Mercury post as acceptable.
Colorado mom allegedly bought alcohol daily for 16-year-old daughter found dead with 173 empty bottles
A Colorado mother has been charged in connection with the death of her 16-year-old daughter, who prosecutors say drank herself to death and had 173 empty alcohol bottles hidden in her bedroom, authorities announced.
Gretchen Leanne Ryan, 55, is charged with second-degree murder, according to the First Judicial District Attorney’s Office. Her daughter was identified in an obituary as Grace Elizabeth Ryan.
The younger Ryan was found dead on March 9 at her Arvada home after authorities received reports of an unresponsive female.
Preliminary autopsy findings revealed the teen had an abnormally fatty liver for someone her age, which medical professionals believed indicated prolonged periods of alcohol consumption. Her cause of death was determined to be aspiration pneumonia related to chronic alcohol use.
ALCOHOL DEATHS HAVE MORE THAN DOUBLED IN RECENT YEARS, ESPECIALLY AMONG WOMEN
The mother and daughter frequently drank extensively and smoked marijuana together, prosecutors said. Beginning in September 2025, the pair discussed drinking and purchasing alcohol on an almost daily basis via text messages, according to authorities.
"The communications indicate Ryan arranged regular alcohol deliveries to the home and took steps to conceal the victim’s alcohol use from her father, who primarily resided in the basement of the home," the DA's office said in a news release.
Ryan kept supplying her daughter with alcohol despite the teen's significant physical health concerns, according to text messages. The communications described episodes of blood vomiting, difficulty eating, difficulty walking and the use of diapers due to symptoms associated with excessive alcohol consumption.
FLORIDA MOM ACCUSED OF ABANDONING DAUGHTER AT UNIVERSAL STUDIOS TO GO DRINKING AT BAR
Aware of her excessive drinking, the younger Ryan feared she would die and repeatedly expressed concerns about her health to her mother, authorities said.
Text messages sent to her mother the night before her death revealed that the teen said she was not feeling well.
During their investigation, detectives found 173 empty alcohol bottles hidden in the teen's bedroom — under her bed and inside a closet, the DA said.
The bottles included various brands and sizes of vodka and other hard liquor.
Amid her alcohol consumption, the teen was un-enrolled from her high school in April 2025 to attend online classes, police said.
At the time of her death, she had completed only one online semester of ninth grade and had not participated in activities outside the home for several months.
Ryan is being held in the Jefferson County Jail on a $500,000 cash-only bond.
Detroit Tigers making big demands in Tarik Skubal trade, will historically bad AL keep him in town?
It's rare that a player of Tarik Skubal's caliber is available on the open market.
He is the reigning Cy Young Award winner in the American League. He's become one of the most consistent pitchers in Major League Baseball. He offers a rare blend of elite stuff that can miss bats when necessary along with the command and control to avoid putting extra runners on base.
To their credit, the Detroit Tigers held on to Skubal over the offseason, despite immense interest from other clubs. Instead, ownership and the team's front office doubled down on their surprising 2025 season, coming up just short of an ALCS berth after losing to the Seattle Mariners. They added Framber Valdez, one of the best available free-agent starters. They brought back Gleyber Torres and Justin Verlander, and added Kenley Jansen to stabilize the back end of the bullpen.
TARIK SKUBAL GETS INTO SHOUTING MATCH WITH RIVAL'S DUGOUT AFTER STRIKEOUT, HELD BACK BY TEAMMATE
But despite playing in arguably the single worst league in modern baseball history, the Tigers as of Thursday afternoon are just 34-46. They're 7.5 games behind in the AL Central, and five games back in the race for the third wild-card spot. And therein lies the difficulty.
There are five teams ahead of the Tigers in the American League standings. Skubal has just returned from an arm injury that required surgery, and has yet to really dominate since rejoining the rotation. His velocity is down a bit in 2026 compared to 2025, but his track record is as good as anyone. And the AL this season is so underwhelming that even at 34-46, Detroit might have a path to postseason baseball.
All these factors complicate a potential trade, which is why it's not surprising that Detroit is making big demands of any team interested in acquiring Skubal for a playoff run of their own.
TIGERS INCREASINGLY LIKELY TO TRADE TARIK SKUBAL BEFORE DEADLINE AS PLAYOFF HOPES FADE, REPORTS SAY
Per the New York Post's Jon Heyman, the Tigers are asking for pitching under team control for several years, and athletic hitters who are close to reaching the big leagues. Heyman also reported that, at least from the New York Yankees, the Tigers wanted their No. 1 overall prospect, George Lombard, and reliever Carlos Lagrange, their No. 4 prospect. Both are highly regarded, with Lombard widely viewed as a top-20 prospect in baseball. The Yankees, reportedly, balked.
That's quite a bit of return for a player only under contract through the end of the season. Especially one represented by Scott Boras, which means he's unlikely to sign an extension before reaching free agency. But Skubal isn't just any player, and Detroit can make big demands, with the position they're in.
Incredibly, entering play on Wednesday, there were just two teams in the AL with a positive run differential. There were eight in the National League. The Chicago White Sox, leading Detroit's division, are just 41-38, having been outscored by three runs on the year. Detroit can tell other teams they're willing to hold on to Skubal, thinking that one hot streak could put them right back in contention.
While the trade deadline is still more than a month away, the Tigers can hold the opposition over a barrel. You want Skubal now? Give us your two best prospects and a major-league pitcher. Or we'll just hang on to him, see if we can get back in position. Or are you willing to risk waiting until the end of July and miss out if the Dodgers swoop in?
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It's one of the most unusual situations and questions we've seen in baseball. But it sure seems like Detroit is willing to trade Skubal. If someone's aggressive enough to meet the asking price.
Kane Brown says he's 'glad I'm here' after 150 mph golf ball struck him in the ear
Country star Kane Brown is glad to be alive after suffering a brutal injury that landed him in the hospital.
On Tuesday, Brown shared a series of photos detailing the gruesome circumstances.
"Shot in the head by a golf ball," he wrote on the first Instagram Story, accompanied by a photo of his ear.
COUNTRY STAR BILL ANDERSON'S 'FREAK ACCIDENT' FORCED GRAND OLE OPRY CANCELLATION
"Just a scratch," he wrote on a follow-up photo, which highlighted his stitches.
"That said, it will prob get worse next 48 hours but I'm alive and that's all that matters … holy crap," he wrote in a third post.
In a video posted on TikTok, Brown — who appeared to have blood on his shirt — further detailed the incident.
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"A lot of people, they think that the ball came over multiple fairways. No, this one, it was my own buddy. I ain’t going to name any names. He feels terrible, but he needs to know that I’m good," Brown said. "I went to the hospital… I had a split ear and some swelling… it was about a 150 to 180 mile an hour ball, a three-wood slice… We already hit our drives… I’m just glad I’m here."
Brown's wife, Katelyn, shared more details on Wednesday.
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"This wasn't a golf ball that had been flying through the air and had been losing momentum. He was right off the side from it," she wrote on her Instagram Stories on Wednesday. "It could have been so much worse."
"We got great news after his CT scans — nothing internally, no skull fractures — this was just all basically external with a minor concussion. We were so relieved."
Because of the injury, Brown was forced to miss the Tight End University concert in Nashville on Tuesday, June 23.
Representatives for Brown did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
Someone with spare time and their mind in the gutter noticed something about Edmonton Oilers head coaches
The Edmonton Oilers officially have a new voice behind the bench in Mike Babcock, and it's easily one of the most controversial hirings in recent memory.
Only time will tell whether Babcock is the guy who can get this team over the hump after they took a step backward last season, but one thing is certain: He fits the Oilers mold.
It's not because of his style or his demeanor, it's because of his name.
Because someone — someone with a lot of time, and male anatomy on the brain — noticed that the last five Oilers coaches have all had names with some kind of slang term for male genitals in them.
MIKE BABCOCK GOING TO EDMONTON JUST MADE THE OILERS APPOINTMENT VIEWING THIS UPCOMING SEASON
Don't believe me? See for yourself.
Ken Hitchcock, Dave Tippett, Jay Woodcroft, Kris Knoblauch, and now Mike Babcock.
That is a generational run of penis-named head coaches.
ALL-TIME TALENT, ZERO TITLES: THE MOST UNDERACHIEVING FRANCHISES IN NORTH AMERICAN SPORTS
Sure, it's childish, but it's kind of unbelievable to hit five in a row. Two or three would be a funny coincidence, but five? That makes it seem like it's somewhere on the front office's checklist.
Like, it's not a dealbreaker if you don't have a wang name, but if you do, it could put you over the top or fill a gap in your resume.
Even wilder, some common and obvious dong names are not represented. No Johnsons and no Richards.
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That seems almost impossible, but here we are.
So, it seems like Babcock was always destined to be the guy (although you've got to think that using this crotch logic, Peter Laviolette had to be in the running).
Still, you'd think after four straight phallically named coaches in a row and no Cups to show for it, they'd try something else.
Now that they've kept the wiener names streak alive, it's time to get to work on those depth and goaltending issues.
WNBA suspends Alyssa Thomas for 'recklessly' hitting Caitlin Clark in throat during scramble
The WNBA reviewed the Caitlin Clark-Alyssa Thomas incident from Wednesday night.
The league apparently didn’t like what it saw.
Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas received a Flagrant Foul 2 penalty and a one-game suspension after the league reviewed her contact with Clark during the Mercury’s 111-109 win over the Indiana Fever at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
The WNBA announced Thursday that Thomas was punished for "recklessly making contact with her fist to the throat area" of Clark.
CAITLIN CLARK EXITS EARLY WITH BACK ISSUE AS FEVER FALL TO MERCURY
The play occurred with 6:52 remaining in the second quarter. Clark drove toward the basket and went to the floor as multiple players fought for the ball. During the scramble, Thomas appeared to drive her fist into Clark's neck and throat area.
No foul was called on the play during the game.
The WNBA said on Thursday that Thomas’ action was deemed a non-basketball act. The league also noted that its office has the ability, after reviewing any game, to reclassify a flagrant foul or classify any foul not called as a flagrant during a game. The league can also impose a fine or suspension.
Thomas will serve the suspension June 27, when the Mercury visit the Toronto Tempo.
The ruling came after Fever coach Stephanie White blasted the officiating following the loss.
"We have a generational talent and a WNBA superstar who had two cheap shots right there that weren’t called," White said after the game.
White called the no-call on Thomas "absolutely egregious and utterly disrespectful."
ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!
White also criticized a separate play where Clark landed awkwardly after being fouled by Valeriane Ayayi on a 3-point attempt. Officials reviewed the play, but did not upgrade it to a flagrant foul. Clark grabbed at her back afterward and later left the game and did not return. She finished with 19 points and eight assists in 20 minutes before exiting.
The Thomas suspension won’t change the result. Phoenix still won the game, 111-109.
But the league’s ruling does matter.
It means White’s complaints weren’t just postgame frustration after a close loss. At least on the Thomas play, the WNBA admitted referees missed an obvious flagrant foul.
That’s the part that should concern the league.
Clark is the WNBA’s biggest draw, and the conversation around how she’s officiated isn’t going away. The league can insist it is reviewing plays after the fact, and in this case, it did.
But it’s fair to ask why a fist to the throat area had to wait until the next day to become a Flagrant 2.
Debt collection letter for debt you don't owe? What to do now
A letter arrives about a debt you don't remember, from a company you've never dealt with, for an account you never opened. For a growing number of people, that notice is how they first learn someone used their identity.
Complaints to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) about attempts to collect a debt not owed rose about 115% above their prior two-year average in 2025, and many of those consumers reported balances they didn't recognize and suspected identity theft.
Before you panic or pay, it helps to understand why these letters show up and what rights you have.
WHY LAST YEAR'S BREACH IS THIS YEAR'S IDENTITY FRAUD
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Why debt collectors contact you about a debt you do not owe
When a charged-off account is sold to a collection agency, the agency receives the original creditor's application file, including whatever identifiers were used to open it. That contact information is often 90 to 180 days out of date by the time the account changes hands.
HOW SCAMMERS BUILD A PROFILE ON YOU USING DATA BROKERS
Before the first call, the agency runs skip tracing: matching a name, Social Security number (SSN) and past addresses against public records, postal change-of-address data, property and utility records and data-broker files to find the current person behind the account. At bulk volume, each lookup costs the agency pennies.
The agency then contacts you directly, by phone or mail, whether or not you have looked at your credit file.
The account behind the notice may have been opened with your information pulled from breaches and resold, then approved by an automated check that matched the data to an existing file without confirming that the applicant was you. Opening a new account is the leading form of attempted identity misuse reported to the Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC), which counted it more often than takeovers of accounts people already held. What happens after is less understood.
10 SIGNS YOUR PERSONAL DATA IS BEING SOLD ONLINE
Charged-off debts, including fraudulent ones, are sold in bulk portfolios for pennies on the dollar, often with thin supporting paperwork. One fraudulent balance can be sold and resold across several agencies. A debt you dispute and clear with one collector can be repackaged and reappear with another months later.
With medical debt, a bill can sometimes move toward collections before you see every explanation of benefits, insurance update or corrected statement. That is why you should contact the provider and your insurer before paying a collector.
Federal law gives you a defined response, and the clock starts at first contact. Under the CFPB's Regulation F, a collector must send a validation notice describing the debt and your rights in, or within five days of, its first communication with you.
5 MYTHS ABOUT IDENTITY THEFT THAT PUT YOUR DATA AT RISK
You have 30 days from receiving that notice to dispute the debt in writing under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). Dispute inside that window, and the collector must stop collecting until it verifies the debt.
One important note: the FDCPA generally covers third-party debt collectors, not every original creditor. However, credit reporting laws, identity theft protections and state laws may still give you rights.
If the debt came from identity theft, send the collector an FTC Identity Theft Report from IdentityTheft.gov. Also, tell the collector in writing that you dispute the debt, that it resulted from identity theft and that you want it to stop reporting the account to the credit bureaus.
IS YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER AT RISK? SIGNS SOMEONE MIGHT BE STEALING IT
Ask Equifax, Experian and TransUnion for a block under Section 605B of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).
With a valid identity theft report and proof of your identity, the bureaus must block the fraudulent item within four business days. A block is harder to reverse than an ordinary dispute, which counts when the same debt can be resold.
The CFPB has said it may expand the meaning of identity theft under Regulation V to cover "coerced debt," money run up in someone's name without their consent, including in domestic and elder abuse cases.
Before you send money or confirm any personal details, slow down and make the collector prove the debt belongs to you.
Do not pay, promise to pay or give out more personal information during the first call. Ask for the validation notice in writing and save every letter, voicemail and call log. Then send a written dispute within 30 days.
If you believe identity theft caused the account, create an FTC Identity Theft Report at IdentityTheft.gov. Send copies to the collector, the original creditor and all three credit bureaus. Also, place a fraud alert or credit freeze with Equifax, Experian and TransUnion, so it becomes harder for someone to open another account in your name.
With medical debt, contact the provider and your insurer before paying a collector. Ask for an itemized bill and an explanation of benefits. A medical bill can end up in collections while paperwork, insurance reviews or billing disputes are still catching up.
If a collector sues you, do not ignore the papers. Respond by the court deadline or contact a consumer law attorney or legal aid group. Even a debt you do not owe can create bigger problems if you miss a court deadline.
Once a fraudulent account charges off and sells, cleanup gets harder. You may need to dispute the debt with the collector, the original lender and all three credit bureaus. If someone resells the debt, the same problem can come back months later.
YOU HAVE A CREDIT FREEZE. IT STILL ISN’T ENOUGH
Credit monitoring can help you spot a new account or hard inquiry before the debt reaches collections. That gives you time to contact the lender, dispute the account and freeze your credit sooner.
No service can prevent every account opened in your name. However, three-bureau credit monitoring can alert you when lenders report new accounts or hard inquiries. That can help you act before a collections notice arrives or a lender denies you credit.
See my tips and best picks on Best Identity Theft Protection at CyberGuy.com.
A collection letter for an unfamiliar debt deserves a closer look. It may mean someone opened an account in your name. Do not pay just to stop the calls. Ask for written validation and dispute the debt fast. If someone misused your information, file an FTC Identity Theft Report. Then freeze your credit and check all three credit reports. Early alerts can help you catch fraud before collections begin. That can save you money, time and stress.
Have you ever gotten a collection letter or call for a debt you knew you did not owe, and what did you do first? Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com.
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