Ex-NFL Kicker Jay Feely Says Photo Of Him With Gun, Daughter And Prom Date Was Meant To Be A ‘Joke’

Former NFL kicker Jay Feely drew severe backlash after posting a photo on Twitter on Saturday that showed himself holding a gun next to his daughter and her prom date.

Jay Feely Shares Prom Photo With Gun, Daughter

Feely eventually issued a half-apology by saying the picture was meant to be “a joke” and that he did not intend to offend anyone.

SLIDESHOW: 30 Best Sports Instagrams!

Feely’s photo comes at a time when the national debate around gun rights and gun control has been revived in the wake of multiple mass shootings, particularly at schools across the country, where dozens have died or been hurt. After a shooting at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida left 17 dead and many others injured, rallies, marches and walkouts have been organized all across the United States. The most recent walkout was held on Friday, (April 20) which marked the 19th anniversary of the Columbine High School shooting in Colorado.

“The prom picture I posted was obviously intended to be a joke,” Feely wrote in a subsequent tweet about his picture. “My Daughter has dated her boyfriend for over a year and they knew I was joking. I take gun safety seriously (the gun was not loaded and had no clip in) and I did not intend to be insensitive to that important issue.”

Here are some of the angry reactions that the photo drew, including one from Shannon Watts, the founder of the non-profit advocacy group Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America.

SLIDESHOW: 10 Highest-Paid Athletes

Other people, however, were not offended by the post and understood that Feely was simply referencing a movie:

Feely played for the Miami Dophins, Arizona Cardinals and New York Giants and Jets among other teams. Since he retired from the NFL in 2014, he has worked as a football analyst for CBS.