On June 9, 2026, a Texas teenager named Karmelo Anthony (frequently spelled Carmelo Anthony in media reports) was convicted of murder and sentenced to 35 years in prison for the stabbing of high school student Austin Metcalf. The verdict has ignited a fierce media divide. On The Megyn Kelly Show, host Megyn Kelly wasted no time blasting the teenager's defense team, stating, "the bullshit that is coming out of the Carmelo Anthony supporters team is rank." Her panel heavily debated the teen's intent, with contributor Phil Holloway questioning if the defense was trying to claim the defendant "was a sports fisherman" to explain away his possession of a knife.
Meanwhile, over on The Breakfast Club, the mood was vastly different, with hosts highlighting celebrity outrage over the sentence. Loren LoRosa pointed to Cardi B, who reacted to the 35-year sentence by posting, "Wow, just freaking wow. Disgusting," and arguing that the justice system was merely "trying to make an example" of the youth. LoRosa also referenced rapper Waka Flocka, who argued that the teenager was bullied and cornered, circumstances that should have been weighed more heavily by the court.
The debate quickly turned to systemic issues, with Loren LoRosa questioning whether the trial's outcome would have been different if the defendant "was a white teenager." Pointing to historical racial biases in jury trials, she asked on The Breakfast Club whether an all-white jury "fares not as equally" for a Black defendant.
While the trial dominates news headlines, the retired NBA legend Carmelo Anthony is still drawing attention on the court. On First Take, former NBA player Iman Shumpert praised the former Knicks star's active presence at Madison Square Garden, noting that "Melo on the sideline coaching" is basically acting as another coach to the players from the front row.