“Kyren was a bright star,” said Brian Kelly. “He had an incredible personality. I’ll remember him as somebody that had a love for the game, a love for being a Tiger and was a guy that played with great emotion”. Hearing those words, Kyren Lacy’s fans can probably recall him running across the field, with his celebrations and antics after touchdowns, often punctuated by a wide grin. However, as his lawyer recently said, “The pressure and perception likely became unbearable“.

After all, it is not easy to accumulate 58 passes for 866 yards and nine touchdowns in a single season, declare for the draft, and yet, never be invited. It all began when Lacy was accused of multiple charges because of a crash in Louisiana that killed 78-year-old Herman Hall. As per reports, while he initially fled the scene instead of assisting the victim, he turned himself in later on. Following the crash, the conversation on social media shifted drastically, always sitting on the legal side of things and branding him a murderer. One doesn’t have to think much to understand how social media must have affected how Lacy looked at himself while already dealing with a lot of guilt.

There is no doubt that it is unfair that when Herman Hall died, the story shifted away from him and his family (But Lacy isn’t at full fault for this). And what Lacy did was (if he did so), to put it in the simplest words, something terrible. However, one also needs to remember that no charges were filed, and neither were his toxicology reports positive. “He didn’t cause this accident,” attorney Matt Ory stated firmly. He further said that it was another car that crashed into the vehicle of the 78-year-old.

Lacy was waiting for the grand jury to put forth their verdict after hearing the defense’s pieces of evidence. Yet, before that could happen, it seems like all the YouTube breakdowns broke him down. Lacy was battling demons no one saw coming. At just 24, he died by apparent suicide during a police pursuit in Houston, leaving the LSU community stunned and heartbroken. His death flipped the spotlight onto mental health and social media. And Hailey Van Lith, who has always been open about her own experience with depression and suicidal thoughts, was probably triggered by this incident when she made a mental health statement in her first Chicago Sky press conference.

Hailey Van Lith issued a heartfelt plea: “I would suggest all athletes to work with a sports psychologist, no matter what sport player. I highly recommend every young athlete get help on the mental side.” Her message is clear—before another life is lost, it’s time for the sports world to take mental health as seriously as physical training. It is imperative to note here that Van Lith’s struggles were also enhanced by the digital world during her time at LSU.

Now, the case is far from over. Ory has vowed to hold those people accountable and responsible who led to the “gross miscarriage of justice“.

Kyren Lacy’s father’s words spark more emotions amidst his lawyer’s comments

Kyren Lacy had not yet been charged; however, his mug shots circulated by every other news outlet raise the concern of how few chances are given to people of color to defend themselves. We don’t know the full story, no one does, but the clamoring on social media should have been for a faster justice for Hall. What instead happened was a witch hunt, as Ory called it. “From the very beginning, this so-called investigation took on the appearance of an overzealous, targeted effort — what can only be described as a witch hunt — fueled by who Kyren was and the public profile he carried.”

He further brought two points to notice that he hopes will stick with those that led him to that point, saying, “It’s imperative to understand the Lafourche Parish District Attorney, to this day, has not formally charged Kyren…..the recent civil lawsuit filed against him that named another defendant who mysteriously wasn’t charged with a crime, only him, and the overall tone of coverage painted a deeply biased picture”. 

Here, when you listen to what Lacy’s father, Kenny, has to say, it might break you. However, we hope it also makes its impact in the way he meant. It’s a call to action. “Young parents,start talking to your kids at a very early age and make sure they are confident and comfortable confiding in you. Don’t be cool with “I’m Alright,or I’m good” when you know deep down something isn’t right,” he began, ending with a “Check on your kids mental!!!!!!!!!!!”

We hope justice is soon given to both Kyren Lacy and Herman Hall, and that it does not get shaped by social media. And we would like to end with Kenny’s words, who also said, “Mental Health is real, and for the most part, it’s invisible, don’t ignore the signs, even if they may seem small.”