‘That’s a Lie’: Karmelo Anthony’s Mom Denies Misusing Fundraiser Money
Kala Hayes, the mother of Karmelo Anthony—the teen charged in the stabbing of another student at a Frisco track meet, Austin Metcalf—is speaking out against online rumors that her family used donated funds to rent a new house.
“Whatever you think {about} what happened between Karmelo and the Metcalf boys, my three younger children, my husband and I didn’t do anything to deserve to be threatened, harassed and lied about,” Hayes said. “The lies and false accusations that have been said about us, especially over the past week, {have} been overwhelming. The lies and their amplification put my family in danger.”
During Thursday’s press conference, Metcalf’s father had to be escorted out.
The backlash stems from a fundraiser launched by the family to support Karmelo’s legal defense. Critics online accused them of misusing donations after images circulated of what appeared to be a new home. But Hayes insists her family is being unfairly judged—and that their lives were already under intense scrutiny even before the incident went viral.
The case itself has sparked outrage and confusion, with many pointing to the violent footage of the stabbing that circulated on social media. But Hayes argues that people are rushing to judgment without understanding the full story—or the toll it’s taken on her family.
“To the family who experienced the loss, my heart truly goes out to you,” she said, through tears. “To those who have supported my family, thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”
Anthony is currently fighting charges in connection with Metcalf's stabbing. The case has garnered national attention, raising deeper conversations about youth violence, racial bias, and media sensationalism in Texas.
As the family prepares for the legal battle ahead, Hayes says she’s staying focused on protecting her son.
