Sports
Former LSU Star Receiver Kyren Lacy Dead in Apparent Suicide Amid Legal Troubles from Fatal Hit-and-Run
HOUSTON — Former LSU wide receiver Kyren Lacy was found dead Saturday night in Houston in what is being reported as an apparent suicide, an LSU official confirmed to Channel2 NOW on Sunday.
Lacy, 24, had recently faced legal troubles stemming from a fatal hit-and-run incident in December, and was considered a potential first-round NFL Draft prospect prior to the allegations.
Lacy’s death comes just two days before a Louisiana grand jury was scheduled to hear evidence in connection to the December 17 crash in Lafourche Parish, which resulted in the death of 78-year-old Herman Hall, of Thibodaux, Louisiana.
The incident severely impacted Lacy’s professional trajectory and public standing.
According to a Louisiana State Police report, Lacy was allegedly driving a 2023 Dodge Charger at a high rate of speed on Louisiana Highway 20.
Authorities say he recklessly passed multiple vehicles by crossing into oncoming traffic within a designated no-passing zone. This action reportedly caused a chain reaction.
A pickup truck traveling northbound was forced to brake and swerve to avoid a head-on collision. Behind that vehicle, a 2017 Kia Cadenza also swerved to avoid the Charger, but in doing so, crossed the centerline and collided head-on with a southbound 2017 Kia Sorento.
Herman Hall, a passenger in the Sorento, later succumbed to injuries sustained in the crash.
Investigators stated that Lacy did not stop at the scene to render aid or notify authorities.
Instead, he allegedly fled, leaving others to deal with the aftermath of the devastating collision.
Lacy turned himself in to authorities on January 12 and was booked into the Lafourche Parish jail on several charges, including:
- Negligent homicide
- Felony hit-and-run resulting in death
- Reckless operation of a vehicle
He was later released on a $151,000 bond. His agent, Rocky Arceneaux, stated at the time that Lacy was “fully cooperating with the authorities.”
Before the incident, Lacy was widely considered one of the top receiver prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft. ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper had ranked him as high as No. 6 among wide receivers in December.
However, following the crash and subsequent charges, his stock plummeted, and he was no longer listed among the top 10 wideouts in Kiper’s latest rankings.
Lacy began his collegiate career at Louisiana before transferring to LSU, where he played three seasons. In 2023, he posted career-best numbers with 58 receptions for 866 yards and a team-high nine touchdowns.
He declared for the NFL Draft on December 19—just two days after the fatal crash—and did not participate in LSU’s Texas Bowl victory over Baylor. He later took part in LSU’s Pro Day in March.
The news of Lacy’s death shocked the LSU community and football world. While no official cause of death has been publicly released, multiple sources have indicated that Lacy died by suicide.
The circumstances surrounding his death are under investigation.
This tragic case has left a trail of unanswered questions, mourning families, and a promising career cut short by a series of devastating choices and consequences.
LSU officials and former teammates have not yet released public statements.
Business & Economy
Apple TV Secures Exclusive 5-Year U.S. Broadcast Rights for Formula 1 in Landmark $700 Million Deal
CUPERTINO, Calif. — Apple TV has finalized a historic five-year agreement with Formula 1 to become the sport’s exclusive media rights holder in the United States, replacing ESPN as the official broadcast partner beginning with the upcoming F1 season.
Under the new contract, Apple TV will pay approximately $140 million per year, a 55% increase over ESPN’s most recent annual rights fee of $90 million. The total value of the deal is estimated at $700 million, reflecting the rapid surge in Formula 1’s U.S. media valuation over the past decade.
Formula 1’s broadcast rights in the U.S. have experienced exponential growth. When ESPN first began airing F1 races in 2018, it did so at no cost, under a free broadcast agreement designed to expand the sport’s U.S. presence.
That initial partnership evolved into a $5 million deal, which later increased to $75–90 million annually under the most recent contract.
The new Apple TV agreement now nearly doubles the previous rate, underscoring the sport’s growing popularity in the American market.
While F1 TV, Formula 1’s official direct-to-consumer service, will continue to operate in the U.S., access will now be integrated through Apple TV.
Viewers will need an Apple TV account to stream F1 TV content; however, existing subscribers to both services will benefit from bundled savings.
Apple TV will provide comprehensive coverage of every race weekend, including practice sessions, qualifying, sprint races, and the main grand prix events, all streamed in ultra-high definition.
All Formula 1 programming on Apple TV will be available in both English and Spanish, leveraging Apple’s capacity to reach the estimated 42 million Spanish speakers in the U.S. Apple’s signature production quality—known for minimal video compression and creative camera experimentation—is expected to enhance the overall broadcast experience.
The company is still finalizing its broadcast and production team, with plans to bring in a mix of new and experienced motorsport talent.
Apple plans to leverage its ecosystem to maximize fan engagement. The company will integrate F1 content into Apple News, Apple Music, and the Apple TV app, while offering real-time race tracking via an iPhone widget.
Push notifications and curated playlists inspired by each race weekend will further personalize the viewer experience.
This approach mirrors Apple’s successful partnership with Major League Soccer (MLS), where the company holds global broadcast rights through its “MLS Season Pass” on Apple TV.
According to Eddy Cue, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Services, the deal was facilitated by the strong relationship forged between Apple and Formula 1 executives during the production of the Apple Original Film “F1”, starring Brad Pitt.
The film, which grossed over $628 million worldwide, became the highest-grossing sports movie of all time and deepened Apple’s ties with F1 leadership.
Apple intends to make select races available free-to-view on the Apple TV app, while reserving premium coverage for paying subscribers.
For ESPN, the inability to sell commercials during uninterrupted race broadcasts limited potential profitability, making it difficult to justify higher fees. Apple, as a subscription-based platform, faces no such constraints.
This move aligns with Apple’s long-term media strategy: to own and control full end-to-end distribution of major sports leagues, as seen with MLS.
For viewers, the new deal consolidates all Formula 1 content—previously spread across cable and streaming platforms—into a single, seamless destination.
While $140 million per year may seem steep, industry analysts note that individual Formula 1 team sponsorships can exceed $100 million annually, suggesting that Apple’s investment is consistent with the sport’s elite global positioning.
Ultimately, the partnership provides Apple with access to F1’s affluent and highly engaged global audience, offering powerful marketing opportunities and reinforcing its growing presence in live sports broadcasting.