“Violence is never the answer, but sometimes it is” — Matt Barnes said and an X user found the perfect use for the quote. He shared a meme with the quote to justify Joel Embiid’s recent altercation with columnist Marcus Hayes. As per ClutchPoints, the altercation occurred because of Hayes bringing up Embiid’s deceased brother and his son. And from what it seems, Barnes supported the move by replying to the aforementioned X user using his quote with “sometimes”. So his response to Jason Kelce smashing a hackler’s phone should come as no surprise either.

Caught on a video, Kelce slammed the phone of a Penn State fan who was hurling insults at his brother, Travis Kelce, and Taylor Swift. Barnes wasn’t shy about sharing his thoughts on the incident, posting on X. “Y’all waaaaay too comfortable disrespecting athletes,” he wrote, having witnessed a second instance of disrespect in a matter of few hours.

But here’s the twist—according to Daily Mail, Travis and Taylor were left shocked when they heard about Jason’s outburst. “Taylor and Travis were both really shocked by this considering Jason is one of the nicest guys in the world,” a source told Daily Mail. 

The reaction is understandable considering it’s hard for most people to picture Jason—one of the NFL’s most easygoing and loved players—going off on a fan. But when a slur aimed at Travis and Swift hit his ears, Jason’s family-first instinct took over. “Jason will never stand for anyone insulting his family. And he views Taylor as family now,” the source further told Daily Mail.

Considering how close Matt Barnes himself holds his family, his siding with Jason is understandable. Especially when he is not among the ones to hold back from any confrontation.

The instance when Barnes stated “violence is never the answer, but sometimes it is”

When the Memphis Grizzlies hosted the New York Knicks back in January 2021, it wasn’t just another game on the calendar. This matchup was fueled by more than basketball rivalry–it was personal. For the first time since their infamous October 2020 altercation, Grizzlies forward Matt Barnes and Knicks coach Derek Fisher were set to meet face-to-face.

You probably remember the backstory—Fisher, Barnes’ former teammate on the Lakers, had reportedly gotten close to Matt’s estranged wife—a relationship that didn’t sit well with Matt, according to The New York Post. The fallout? A physical altercation that earned Barnes a two-game suspension.

Barnes, however, didn’t mince words about his former friend even after the suspension. “I don’t talk to snakes,” he told The New York Daily News. It’s clear that any friendship between them was well in the rearview. And while Barnes stayed focused on the game at hand, he hinted he wasn’t done with Fisher just yet. “When I’m retired, him and I will cross paths again.”

And then came Barnes’ most talked-about quote of the night. Reflecting on the situation, he said, “Every man who looks at the situation knows what’s right and wrong. Violence is never the answer, but sometimes it is.”