What's On the Video — Part Three with Karmelo Anthony's Parents

Summary

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Podcast Summary: The Breakfast Club — "What's On the Video — Part Three with Carmelo Anthony's Parents"

Date: June 16, 2026
Host: Mimi Brown, The Black Effect Podcast Network by iHeartPodcasts
Featured Guests: Carmelo Anthony’s Parents, T (Advocate), Tony Startevant, Christopher King

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Episode Overview

This episode centers on new developments in the highly publicized Carmelo Anthony case, specifically focusing on the disputed video evidence central to the trial. Host Mimi Brown facilitates a discussion featuring three individuals who viewed the video and secured their perspectives at a press conference, as well as an in-depth, emotional interview with Carmelo Anthony’s parents. The episode raises questions about justice, racial disparities in sentencing, trial inconsistencies, and the lived experience of the Anthony family in the aftermath.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Disparities in Sentencing and Legal Representation

• Systemic Injustice Highlighted:
  • T, an advocate for Carmelo Anthony, informs listeners about racial disparities in sentencing in Judge Roach's court:

    "There's at least a 75% disparity in the length of the prison sentence when the defendant is of color." (01:52)

• Concerns About Legal Defense:
  • Christopher King, a former attorney and journalist, points out what he calls “malpractice” at the trial (06:58–08:12):
    • Allowing young, unqualified witnesses to testify on ultimate factual issues.
    • Absence of expert witnesses or force consultants.
    • Lack of defense objections during critical moments.

    "There needs to be an investigation. It's not right. It's just not right." (08:12)

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2. Perspectives on the Video Evidence

a. Press Conference Viewers’ Accounts

• Tony Startevant (03:01):
  • Sought video via FOIA request, found its content "starkly different" from trial testimony.
  • Recounts sequence: group of six kids approach Carmelo; short conversation and scuffle; Carmelo flees and is not pursued significantly.

    “Carmelo backed out the back of the canopy...flew down those bleachers...You didn't even see those boys put a finger on him again.” (03:20)

• T (Advocate) details the full timeline after requesting 11 minutes of footage (04:31):
  • Carmelo sits alone under the canopy for 8–9 minutes before approached.
  • Four boys directly engage Carmelo; a scuffle ensues.
  • Carmelo attempts escape, is grabbed and crab-crawls away before running diagonally down the bleachers and falling.
  • Challenges prosecution narrative, emphasizing size difference and questioning why the defense didn't show this video.

    "At no point in that video do you see Hunter holding his brother. At no point in that video do you see those boys ever going back to the tent and sitting down. That was all a lie." (05:58)
    “When you see that video, it was self-defense.” (06:50)

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b. Carmelo Anthony’s Parents’ Perspective

• On What the Video Shows (08:52–10:32):

  • Confirms video depicts Carmelo being approached aggressively.
  • Criticizes DA for focusing the spotlight on the other boys, not Carmelo, in court presentations.

    “The DA...put a spotlight on the boys, right? But they never put a spotlight on Carmelo.” (09:37)

  • Stresses the size difference and ineffectiveness of Carmelo's escape attempts.
  • Describes how the prosecution tried to minimize the actions of the other boys.
  • Raises issues regarding self-defense rights under Texas law.

• Emotional Fallout and Personal Experience:

  • Family feels the process was set up for failure and notes racial bias.

    "We feel like it just don't feel real. ... We stayed in our lane. We worked, nice neighborhood. ... But these people basically made it there. We had just had comments to where people say, yeah, we sending out back to the hood." (14:44)

  • Reveals pain at the verdict and their attempts to keep the family together:

    “I feel like, man... I cried so much. I held back... I never cried as much as I've cried. ... If I would have flashed out the way I wanted to, oh, it would have been all that you would probably be looking at. ... That's what they wanted.” (18:07 & 19:23)

  • Expresses frustrations with legal counsel and desire for stronger advocacy in appeals.

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3. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Discrepancy in Video and Testimony:
  • Tony Startevant:

    "I don't know if the ISD gave us a bogus ass video. I don't know. But that's what I saw." (04:19)

• On Witness Credibility and Legal Process:
  • Christopher King:

    “…You have to make them elocute as to what Carmelo did to allegedly provoke a situation...that's how it works." (07:09)

• On Parental Frustration and Hope:
  • Carmelo Anthony’s Parent:

    “I'm actually praying that we get sent somebody that can help us. ... I'm still right now in shock, so I'm just moving on adrenaline right now." (13:09)

• On the Psychological Toll:
  • Carmelo Anthony’s Parent:

    “It's not the time for me to be arguing with you... because I don't know what he's dealing with. ... We're trying to do stuff around the house. And one thing this thing did do with us and brought our family closer.” (17:24)

• On the Justice System:
  • Carmelo Anthony’s Parent:

    “So I played that game. And I'm just let you know, that game don't work. ... The justice system is not for us.” (19:38)

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Important Timestamps

• 01:52 — Sentencing disparities explained
• 03:01–04:19 — Tony Startevant’s firsthand account of the video
• 04:31–06:50 — T’s breakdown of the full video sequence and missing elements in trial testimony
• 06:58–08:12 — Christopher King’s legal critique and call for investigation
• 08:52–10:32 — Parents describe video evidence, DA's court tactics, and their perceptions of the truth
• 13:09 — Parental hope for new advocacy and appeal
• 14:44–15:51 — Parents reflect on racial implications and courtroom experience
• 18:07 — Emotional aftermath following the verdict
• 19:38 — Reflection on the justice system and enduring hope

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Tone and Takeaways

The tone throughout is raw, emotional, and urgent, providing a stark, human window into a legal case fraught with racial tension and procedural controversy. The guests, especially Carmelo Anthony’s parents, deliver their insights with heartbreak, frustration, and a longing for justice and understanding. The episode exposes the chasm between official legal proceedings and families' lived realities.

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Conclusion

This episode peels back layers of trauma, legal complexity, and systemic bias in the Carmelo Anthony case, shining a spotlight on the ways evidence can be presented or omitted, the imbalance of power in the courtroom, and the deep personal costs paid by families in the wake of tragedy and public scrutiny. The voices on this episode challenge listeners to reconsider narratives, question institutional fairness, and empathize with those whose faith in the system has been shaken.

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Transcript

[Mimi Brown]

This is an I Heart Podcast.

[Hoda Kotb]

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[Mimi Brown]

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[T (Advocate for Carmelo Anthony)]

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[Mimi Brown]

Today on Front page, new claims from three people who say they personally viewed the video at the center of the Carmelo Anthony case. What they say they saw and why they believe the public should know about it.

[T (Advocate for Carmelo Anthony)]

We have noticed major disparities when we look up statistically the sentencing structures that Judge Roach sentences minorities under. There's at least a 75% disparity in the length of the prison sentence when the defendant is of color.

[Mimi Brown]

Then part three of my exclusive sit down with Carmelo Anthony's parents.

[Carmelo Anthony's Parent]

Let me tell you what the DA did. They put a spotlight on the boys, right? So you could see them, right? But they never put a spotlight on Kamala.

[Mimi Brown]

It's Tuesday, June 16th from the Black Effect Podcast Network. I'm Euni Brown. This is Front. Hey, stay with me on this episode. We're going to hear from three people who say they personally viewed the video evidence from the fatal encounter involving Carmelo Anthony and Austin Metcalf. They held a press conference offering their own account of what they say the footage shows. Now, the video has not been released publicly, but the group says they formally requested access and they were allowed to view it. Here's some of what they say the video shows.

[Tony Startevant]

Yeah, so again, my name is Tony Startevant. I was one of the individuals that put in a FOIA request to see the video. What I saw was starkly different from the testimony that I heard given in the trial. There were six kids that walked up, two splintered off. I guess that part was introduced in the trial where they went to deflect the coats. The other four walked directly to Carmela Anthony. There was a brief conversation. I say maybe 20, 30 seconds. And from there a scuffle ensued. It didn't last long. Carmelo backed out the back of the canopy. He looked one way, looked to the left and flew down those bleachers. Now, this is the video that was presented to us. This is the question that I have, though. Why wasn't that video presented in court, and is it the true video? Because, again, it's starkly different from the testimony given in the trial. Carmella Anthony flew down those bleachers, fell at the bottom of the bleachers, got up, took off. It was maybe two or three kids that you can see kind of give chase, but Carmela was gone. So they weren't even going to put a finger on him and touch him again. There was a scuffle that ensued at the top of the bleachers and. And Carmela got it there. But I don't know why that was not brought up in court. I don't know why that was shown. I don't know if the ISD gave us a bogus ass video. I don't know. But that's. That's what I saw.

[T (Advocate for Carmelo Anthony)]

Hello, everybody. I'm an advocate for Carmelo Anthony. My name is T. And when I went to see the video, they asked if you want to see it from either 2 minutes before the stabbing or 11 minutes before. So I chose 11 minutes. From the moment she pressed play, Carmelo Anthony was already sitting up underneath that canopy. And he was sitting there for at least eight to nine and a half minutes. You see? Well, I saw a boy in a black hoodie go over to him first, and then they left out of the tent. And then, you see coming across the field was another six boys. When they got to the bleachers, one he went out of frame and the other one sat at the bottom. But the remaining four, they went directly to Carmelo Anthony. And like T said before, it was a brief conversation and then all you see is commotion. And we know from the interviews that Hunter did, we know that Hunter was in fact up underneath that tent. The next thing you see, I'm sorry, you can see Carmelo in the midst of them assaulting him. You can see Carmelo trying to back out, but he gets pulled back forward. The next thing you see is Carmelo, he comes shooting out the back, but he's still not standing. And he, he had to like kind of crab crawl backwards and he had to like jerk away from them because they still had a hold of his hoodie. He goes up a couple bleachers and he's looking around for which way to go. He runs diagonally down the bleachers and then he falls. At the time of him falling, that's when I noticed another three boys coming down the bleachers chasing after him. But once Carmelo got up, he took off. You didn't see him for the rest of the video. At no point in that video do you see Hunter holding his brother. At no point in that video do you see those boys ever going back to the tent and sitting down. That was all a lie. And I also have questions. I don't know how the defense goes. Did not play that video because when you see that video, it was self defense. Carmelo was only 5, 8, 130 something pounds. And Austin and Hunter Metcalf were six 1, 220 something pounds. So for people to say that he should have used his hands, people can die from fights, from people using their hands. And that's all I'm going to say for right now.

[Christopher King]

I'm Christopher King. I actually was a licensed attorney in Collin county several years ago working with the city of Frisco on a certain project. But I'm Christopher King. My handle is King Cast Online. I'm also a journalist and I have a couple things for you. Briefly. Today I have filed my request for all exhibits used at trial. We'll see how that turns out. I had mailed it in before with the self adjust stamped envelope. Didn't get a response. So I figured I'd fly down here and file it in person this time. So after this trial, what I see is an attorney. I saw what I believe to be malpractice and I don't know why it happened. But I will tell you a couple of quick reference points. Number one, he allowed those students to young people, not professional people, to testify as to ultimate issues of fact, such as was it murder or not? Yes. You know, was it provocation? Carmelo provoked him. That's not how it works. You have to make them elocute as to what Carmelo did to allegedly provoke a situation. That's how it works. And when you don't object to it in the case is in chief, you cannot come back later post hoc and then ask the judge and complain about it in a jury charge. There was also. There were also no expert witnesses produced. No use of force. Expert. No, no. No jury. No jury. Professional consultant.

[Tony Startevant]

Was.

[Christopher King]

Was there. That I know of. Okay, so these are all very serious questions on this case. And I don't understand it, but I don't like it. And I think this is the proverbial travesty of justice that we have just witnessed here. And I. There needs to be an investigation. It's not right. It's just not right.

[Mimi Brown]

Okay, so keep in mind what you just heard, because in part three of my exclusive sit down with Carmelo Anthony's parents, they share their own perspective of what they say. The video shows. If you miss parts one and two, go back to Friday and Monday. But here's part three.

[Carmelo Anthony's Parent]

The evidence shows he jumped three bleachers to get to him.

[Mimi Brown]

Now, did the jury hear that information? And is. And is that information on the video?

[Carmelo Anthony's Parent]

That's on the video. And they had.

[T (Advocate for Carmelo Anthony)]

They made their minds made up.

[Carmelo Anthony's Parent]

Their mind was made up already made up.

[T (Advocate for Carmelo Anthony)]

Three.

[Carmelo Anthony's Parent]

Three bleaches. Some say one, some say three. Some side five. They. All their statements was inconsistent because we

[Mimi Brown]

haven't seen that video. What did that video show?

[Carmelo Anthony's Parent]

The video showed. Honestly, you can show that. You can see him coming into the tent, sitting down. And then it's like it started getting a little like, you can tell the people, but, you know, we're experts. And let me tell you what DA did they put a spotlight on the boys, right. So you could see them. Right. But they never put a spotlight on Kamala. And the reason why is because of course, they was trying to make their side look like, oh, he. It wasn't. It wasn't that bag of push. The whole. The whole thing moved. Even the guy EP said in his statement it was so bad to where it pushed him out the way because he's some pretty. Pretty big kids. Pretty, real big. They're bigger than me, actually. So it's like they tried to minimize their doing. But I've heard people who would pose to be justice if in Texas, if I threaten you when I'm learning, you have the right to do whatever force if you feel for your life.

[T (Advocate for Carmelo Anthony)]

No, he said if you fear for

[Carmelo Anthony's Parent]

your life or seriously body home. Yeah. Or they'll train judicial fighters too.

[Mimi Brown]

And so the video that you. All that. That they. They short showed in court, it shows him running away from.

[Carmelo Anthony's Parent]

Yeah, he was right. He ran to the teacher. The teacher said that the teacher he ran to. He ran to a guy, and the teacher he ran to. Actually he hugged him. Because Camilo, he's not like, he. He hugged the guy like he was freaking out. He hugged the guy. So the guy they. They was hugging, he was crying hysterically. And they tried to paint as if he was trying to leave. But then court. Court, they should. They said it. That he wasn't trying to leave.

[Mimi Brown]

Yeah. Now, did this teacher testify?

[Carmelo Anthony's Parent]

He did, yes. And he also said he had to stop another kid from jumping on Camilo, which was, guess what, Supposed to been a person. That was his friend. The guy who. Hey, man, come on.

[Tony Startevant]

Look.

[Carmelo Anthony's Parent]

Hey, if you've been to high school, think about it. The guy that told you to come over here, you sitting down, the same person who could have de. Escalated the whole thing. He was trying to go after him. And that's the same guy that was playing like he was videoing. But they couldn't find the video. He was. The police didn't really even try to go through his phone to even look for the video. So he. He played. He said he was acting as if he was recording.

[Mimi Brown]

Now, when he was running, was this before or after the incident happened?

[Carmelo Anthony's Parent]

Just after the incident.

[Mimi Brown]

This is after the incident.

[Carmelo Anthony's Parent]

That's why they came up with the narrative that he was running. Yeah, he threw. He. He threw the knife. When he threw. He. He didn't throw the knife. His hand was cut. So it's a lot that when you. The video show, if you ever been on high school bleachers, you're not almost there. You know how you try to walk? So imagine trying to run up. He failed. So what you think failed? He only went up. They caught it in three bleaches. It was like three bleaches up. It was three bleaches up. So when you see. You could see him get up. He was right. You could tell he dropped it. Then he stood up. He didn't know where to go. Then he ran down fail. And they was coming after him. He ran around, ran to a coach.

[Mimi Brown]

Did the video show the altercation of them pushing him first and then the. The confrontation okay, okay. Okay. Did you talk to your defense attorney about any of these concerns that you had as the trial was playing out or even now that the trial is over 100.

[Carmelo Anthony's Parent]

I mean, I'm. I'm actually praying that somebody sending somebody that we get sent somebody that can help us. This. It's kind of like I'm still right now in shock, so I'm just moving on adrenaline right now.

[Mimi Brown]

So you're looking for a new defense attorney for future appeal in.

[Carmelo Anthony's Parent]

Yeah.

[Mimi Brown]

And did your defense attorney say anything about how he feels or they feel the case went?

[Carmelo Anthony's Parent]

I'm going to say they gave us the corporate answer.

[Mimi Brown]

And did Carmelo want to testify in his own. On his own behalf and. And was survived.

[Carmelo Anthony's Parent]

It was based on everything. He didn't need nothing because everything they said on his self defense, they have to prove it. They never prove.

[Mimi Brown]

Okay, so that was never. That was because I know there was this pause and a lot of people thought that, you know, we were going to come back and he was going to take the stand, and he didn't. So that was never an option. That had never been discussed of him taking the stand.

[Carmelo Anthony's Parent]

That's why we just need a. A new. We need. We need somebody who's gonna fight. That's what I kind of say right now. We just need somebody going to fight for him. Because the whole thing was. He provoked it. That was their whole. Their entire case. He provoked it. That's. That's. That's what the whole thing was.

[Mimi Brown]

What do you want the world to know about who Carmelo is and what your family is going through right now?

[Carmelo Anthony's Parent]

Going through hell doesn't feel real. We feel like it just don't feel real. He's a good kid. I mean, the receipts show that he. He was in a Y N. We as adults, we're not helping with the Y ends. And I can know we could look at the tragedy that happened, but it was by the law. The law posed to cover us. So anybody who feels any way different, I honestly feel like, I mean, it's okay when the longer the devil don't knock at your door because I was clueless like that too. Hey, man, it never happened. It would never happen to me. It would never, never happen to us. Because, you know, we stayed in our lane. We worked, nice neighborhood. We was. We were doing good. But these people basically made it there. We had just had comments to where people say, yeah, we sending out back to the hood. We sending out. Yeah, y' all don't deserve they. I don't deserve what Y' all have. He said it in court yesterday. Forgot. He said that. They told my son to look at me when I'm talking to you.

[Mimi Brown]

Who said that?

[Carmelo Anthony's Parent]

The dad, the son. Both of them said, look at me. Why? While we talk to you. Like, oh, it's gonna come out. They said, look at me while we talking. What?

[Mimi Brown]

Yeah, the dad, Metcalf's father said that to Carmelo and the son.

[Carmelo Anthony's Parent]

The son came out. The son came out. He eventually got on the stand for the impact statement, you know, to. To. But he didn't want to get on the stand.

[Mimi Brown]

Has played out. Is there anything that you both wish you could have done differently?

[Carmelo Anthony's Parent]

I wish I would have been just being rebellious and just do what I. I was told. Don't talk to this person. Don't talk to this person. I feel like it was just a setup now. Like. Like I said, they told us, go get. I'm white attorneys. Every black person. I went to white turn. No white attorney said, I'm push them. Hey. He goes, I mean, no objections. It is. It wasn't. It wasn't. Was things to smooth. Stuff like that. As a father of me being who I am, I got to make sure she's straight. This mama bed. I got to make sure she's straight mentally. Because if she's not straight, my house ain't straight. I'm not straight then. So. Because I got the kids, other kids to worry about. Gotta make sure his mental health. I can't go back and forth with him right in there because his. I don't think his mental can handle it. The misunderstanding of what dad is trying to tell. This ain't a daddy moment. You. You understand what I'm saying?

[Mimi Brown]

I do.

[Carmelo Anthony's Parent]

It's not. It's not the time for me to be arguing with you about, hey, you know, sometimes. Hey, son, can you. Hey, can you see? Can you see? Can you see? I know a lot of people say, well, I would have done this or I would have done that. You say that because you're not in that situation. So I couldn't do that. And me knowing my son, which is, you know, your child. Correct. You see, I don't want him to maybe want to hurt himself because I don't know what he's dealing with. He's doing a great job. He's still in school. I'm keeping him busy. We're trying to do stuff around the house. And one thing this thing did do with us and brought our family closer.

[Mimi Brown]

When the verdict came down, what was the first thought that went through your head.

[Carmelo Anthony's Parent]

I feel my son. I was. I feel like, man, I felt like I. I cried so much. I held back and I told her, man, you know, I'm that day, like, hold it up, you know, hold it up and be tight. I said, boy, you broke me. He broke me. When it first had. I never cried as much as I've cried. And when that, when they. I. It was just like when I seen him when he grabbed it, I could still picture that man, what he was saying. And he said, it's so smooth the way he read that verdict. It was like, you know, just, yeah, hey, yeah, as such and such. Yeah, he's found guilty. It was just then he also said what? We was told not to look at the family, but they said that the dad was actually giving the witnesses different signs, like doing do this, like telling them, giving them masters. And I told my attorney, like, yeah, we know, we know, we know. The hell you mean, you know, but identify, act up. I'm the emotional black man. You follow what I'm saying? Oh, look at him. Then it would have been on breaking news. Oh, he don't flashed out. Oh, look out. That's. Look, that's how they added. We got him. So I. I had to humble myself. It wasn't just for me and my family. It was for all of us. Because if I would have flashed out the way I wanted to, oh, it would have been all that you would probably be looking at. God damn it. Everybody went up there after the food. That's what they wanted.

[Mimi Brown]

Yeah.

[Carmelo Anthony's Parent]

So I played that game. And I'm just let you know, that game don't work. It. It's not for us. The justice system is not for us. They can't say we get anything out the. Out of the. Out of the. Out of what we was told. We follow all the instructions and we follow the law. It just don't work for us.

[Mimi Brown]

What do you say to the people

[Carmelo Anthony's Parent]

who say that's he calling out. He's calling out.

[Mimi Brown]

That's part three of my conversation with Carmelo Anthony's parents. Thank you to the family for sharing your story with me. We're going to keep watching this case, the video, the appeal, all of it. That's your front page. I'm Mimi Brown. This podcast was brought to you by the Black Effect Podcast Network.

[Hoda Kotb]

Joy is essential, and it's also elusive. But now there's a new and exciting way to start your journey toward a more joyful existence. Joy 101. It's a new podcast hosted by me Hoda Kotbi if you're craving inspiration to maximize your joy, tune into these candid, uplifting and moving on air chats. Open your free iHeartradio app search Joy101 and listen now. Joy101 with Hoda Kotb is presented by CBS.

[Mimi Brown]

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.