Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay claims a past arrest that happened years ago was because he’s a “rich, white billionaire.”
During an HBO episode of “Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel” that aired Tuesday night, Irsay revealed his opinion regarding his 2014 arrest for operating a vehicle while intoxicated.
“I am prejudiced against because I’m a rich, white billionaire,” Irsay told sports journalist Andrea Kremer. “If I’m just an average guy down the block they’re not pulling me in, of course not.
Here’s the HBO clip where Colts owner Jim Irsay claims Carmel police were prejudiced against him during a DUI arrest for being “a rich, white billionaire”: pic.twitter.com/o2UywtFfMk
— Nate Atkins (@NateAtkins_) November 22, 2023
In response to Irsay’s comment, Kremer asked him, “Do you know what it’s going to sound like when people hear you say they’re prejudiced against a rich, white billionaire?”
“I don’t care what it sounds like,” Irsay told Kremer. “It’s the truth. I could give a damn what people think how anything sounds or sounds like. The truth is the truth and I know the truth.”
Irsay was reportedly stopped on March 16, 2014, after a police officer observed his erratic driving in which he drove slowly, stopping in the roadway and failing to use his turn signal.
Two officers reportedly had to help support Irsay because he had trouble standing. Officers discovered several bottles of prescription medication and $29,029 in cash in his vehicle, according to case documents obtained by The Indianapolis Star.
Irsay pleaded guilty to one count of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, which is a Class C misdemeanor, and admitted to having taken hydrocodone, oxycodone, and Xanax.
The owner of the Colts went on to say that his “arrest was wrong” because he had “just had hip surgery” and could hardly walk.
In response to Irsay’s comments, the Carmel Police Department issued a statement to the outlet that the department was “professional” and the department was “sorry to hear” Irsay’s opinions.
“We are very sorry to hear that comment about our officers and our department,” Lt. D.J. Schoeff said in a statement. “We have a very professional agency consisting of officers that strive to protect our community with integrity and professionalism.”