SEA ISLE CITY, NEW JERSEY: A popular Philadelphia TV news anchor was left with a swollen eye after being sucker punched at a New Jersey bar as part of a TikTok challenge. Bob Kelly, a longtime meteorologist for Fox 29 in the City of Brotherly Love, was emceeing an event at the Oar House Pub in Sea Isle City when he was struck in the face by a brute on Sunday, July 30.
Police told local media outlets that the unidentified attacker first filmed himself pouring beer on Kelly's head and when the reporter tried to push him away, he retaliated by punching him in the face. Following the incident, Kelly, who is known as the “Dean of Traffic”, was transported to the local hospital where he was treated for minor injuries. The Philadelphia Inquirer was informed by sources that the attacker was apprehended by the pub's bouncers and later arrested. Sea Isle Police have not released any information regarding the incident and have not confirmed if the man involved has been arrested or charged.
‘It was a frightening, disturbing event’
On Tuesday, Kelly’s left eye was barely open as he spoke about the incident on 'Good Day Philadelphia'. During the appearance, the report described the ordeal as 'disturbing' while thanking viewers for their outpouring of love and support. Kelly also made comparisons between the attack and more current incidents in which performers like Cardi B, P!nk, Bebe Rexha, and Kelsea Ballerini were struck by objects thrown on stage. "I'm OK, I'm here. It was a frightening, disturbing event that was apparently incited by this TikTok challenge similar to what you saw happen to Cardi B with the water being thrown," he told his co-workers.
Kelly continued by noting that the incident remains under investigation at this time. "I hope this can bring some light to this craziness that is out there and put a stop to it," Kelly remarked in reference to the recent rise in celebrity attacks. Meanwhile, he also thanked viewers for their outpouring of love and support. “Thank you so much for all of the messages on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, cell phone, texting…all concerned about me,” Kelly said before repeating, “I’m OK, I’m here.” It is unclear which TikTok challenge Kelly was referring to but in the past few days, social media has seen a slew of attacks where a few A-listers were struck by heavy objects thrown on stage.
Celebrities struck by flying objects during shows
In the latest incident, Cardi B threw her microphone at an audience member, who threw a drink at her during her show in Las Vegas. The next day, the drink-thrower went to the Las Vegas Metro PD to report the incident, TMZ reported. She told police she had been struck by the microphone thrown from the stage but it is not known if the woman told police she had thrown liquid at the musician first. This incident came just a few days after Harry Styles was shockingly hit in the face by a flying object while he was on stage during his Love On Tour concert in Vienna, Austria in July. The most shocking incident was the one where Bebe Rexha was forced to get three stitches on her face after a man threw a phone at her during her ongoing 'Best F'n Night Of My Life' tour.