Travis Kelce has his hand in several different pots right now. He’s still playing football for the Kansas City Chiefs, he and his brother Jason Kelce just reportedly inked a $100 million deal with Wondery for their podcast, “New Heights,” he’s starring as the host of the upcoming first season of the rebooted Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity?, and he’s about to make his scripted acting debut on Ryan Murphy’s new series, Grotesquerie, starring Niecy Nash and Micaela Morgan. I respect that Travis works hard, hustles, and keeps busy. Some people just work best when they’re going non-stop, but that doesn’t mean it’s always going to be their best work.
All of that said, Travis and Jason’s mom, Donna Kelce, recently did an interview with Variety. During the interview, she noted that her younger son has the power to “manifest things” (100% agree). She also then had some pretty harsh words about her son’s acting career.
Donna Kelce, mother of Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce, spilled on the advice she gave her son ahead of his scripted TV debut on FX’s “Grotesquerie.” The football star, who has previously hosted “Saturday Night Live” and once appeared in the comedy series “Moonbase 8,” is set to make his major acting debut beginning in the third episode of the new Ryan Murphy horror series.
Donna Kelce, in an interview with Variety, said she knows her son wanted to do the show and that he can “manifest things.”
“He has no fear of trying things, and he has no fear of failure,” she said of her son, who is dating pop superstar Taylor Swift. “You know, sometimes parents want to fix things for their kids. But sometimes it’s better to just let them fail. You learn the most from things you don’t do well. Hopefully, if this is something he wants to do, he’ll get better at it.”
Donna Kelce showed support for her son as she dropped by the New York premiere of “Grotesquerie” on Monday.
The series sees Detective Lois Tryon (Niecy Nash) working with Sister Megan (Micaela Diamond) as the two look into “heinous crimes” where they “find themselves ensnared in a sinister web that only seems to raise more questions than answers,” according to an FX description of the show.
Travis Kelce plays a bed nurse in the series, according to Variety, in a casting decision that “Grotesquerie” co-star and executive producer Courtney B. Vance admits “just helps” the show.
“I mean it would be one thing if he wasn’t a nice guy,” Vance told Variety. “But really, he’s a nice guy. It helps everybody. Ryan [Murphy] is all about publicity, and he does it better than anyone.”
LMAO. Poor Travis! It’s so funny that not only does his mom recognizes that acting isn’t his thang, but also that Courtney B. Vance basically acknowledged that Travis was only cast because he’d bring some ratings. My motto is always to never be afraid to try new things, so, good for Travis for putting himself out there (even though that role could have gone to a day player who actually needed the money that they’d have made from that gig). That said, there’s also always value in knowing your limits. Like I noted earlier, Travis and Jason just got a $100 million podcast deal, which is absolutely nuts. This all feels like the Universe is telling Travis, hey, maybe just stick to making money off of being yourself.
-
- Travis Kelce Kansas City Chiefs, 87, GER, Kansas City Chiefs, Pressekonferenz, National Football League, Week 9, Frankfurt am Main, 03.11.2023 GER, Kansas City Chiefs, Pressekonferenz, National Football League, Week 9, Frankfurt am Main, 03.11.2023 Frankfurt *** Travis Kelce Kansas City Chiefs, 87 , GER, Kansas City Chiefs, Press conference, National Football League, Week 9, Frankfurt am Main, 03 11 2023 GER, Kansas City Chiefs, Press conference, National Football League, Week 9, Frankfurt am Main, 03 11 2023 Frankfurt Copyright: xEibner-Pressefoto/FlorianxWieganx EP_FWD,Image: 819430406, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: imago is entitled to issue a simple usage license at the time of provision. Personality and trademark rights as well as copyright laws regarding art-works shown must be observed. Commercial use at your own risk., Model Release: no, Credit line: IMAGO/Eibner-Pressefoto/Florian Wiegan / Avalon
-
- Cannes, FRANCE – NFL’ Kansas City Chief’s and Taylor Swift’s beau Travis Kelce with his brother Jason Kelce at the Cannes Lions Festival. Pictured: Travis Kelce BACKGRID USA 20 JUNE 2024 BYLINE MUST READ: Newspress / BACKGRID USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
-
- New York City, NY – Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce caused a buzz as they left Electric Lady Studios in NYC, exiting hand in hand and all smiles after attending Karen Elson’s wedding. Pictured: Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce BACKGRID USA 7 SEPTEMBER 2024 BYLINE MUST READ: GAMR / BACKGRID USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
-
- New York, NY – Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce cause fan frenzy leaving Karen Elson’s star-studded wedding at Electric Lady Studios in NYC. Pictured: Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce BACKGRID USA 7 SEPTEMBER 2024 BYLINE MUST READ: Tatiana / BACKGRID USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
-
- Celebrities at the 2024 US Open at Billie Jean National Tennis Center Featuring: Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce, Patrick Mahomes, Brittany Mahomes Where: Queens, New York, United States When: 08 Sep 2024 Credit: Jesse Bauer/startraksphoto.com
-
- Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are seen watching Jannik Sinner Vs Taylor Fritz during the men’s singles finals on Arthur Ashe Stadium at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 8, 2024 in Flushing Queens Featuring: Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce Where: Flushing Meadows, New York, United States When: 08 Sep 2024 Credit: Robert Bell/INSTARimages
-
- Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are seen watching Jannik Sinner Vs Taylor Fritz during the men’s singles finals on Arthur Ashe Stadium at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 8, 2024 in Flushing Queens Featuring: Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce Where: Flushing Meadows, New York, United States When: 08 Sep 2024 Credit: Robert Bell/INSTARimages
Photos credit: Jennifer Graylock-Graylock.com / Avalon, IMAGO/Eibner-Pressefoto/Florian, Robert Bell/INSTARimages, Jesse Bauer/startraksphoto.com, Backgrid and Getty
Ouch!
Actually he was a pretty good actor on SNL when he hosted. Pretty impressive
Not only did it feel like his mom’s comment was taken out of context by the media but also what is this narrative? Give the dude a chance. He already had a good run on SNL & has enough confident to pull his weight. And no one can blame Ryan Murphy for a little stunt casting. Anything to get notice in a crowded media landscape
Good. It’s nice to hear a mom who’s real with her famous children lol.
And she’s experienced in trying new things when a path doesn’t work out..I guess her BA was in broadcast communications but then ended up graduating with her Master of Business Administration.
“ Donna graduated with a radio and television degree from Ohio University in 1974, In 1983 went back to school for an MBA. In 2003, she became the vice president at Key Community Development Corporation, where she stayed for just over seven years. She then served Truist as the senior vice president for 12 years before retiring in 2021.”
For real. I worry about him way less knowing his mother tells him the truth.
He is so damn handsome and charming (and a good guy) who cares if his acting skills are below average. This is the difference between a decent person and a villain: Travis can’t act no big deal, Lara Trump can’t sing and everybody make fun of her.
HIs mother does this somewhat frequently – I don’t know if her affect and personality is as ready for prime time as the more teddy-bearish and optimistic father. But I’m also confused why they give so many interviews to begin with.
Now I want him to win an Emmy. Go Travis. His mom cracks me up.
I don’t think she is wrong about what she said, but maybe she shouldn’t have said it in the red carpet interview? Her son isn’t a trained actor, so I understand she is trying to say that he is gonna get better at it, the more he gets to do it.
I didn’t find them harsh but maybe it’s because my parents were the same way 🤣🤣. Just very blunt, straightforward feedback. I mean, if they’re willing to hire Travis, then good for him for taking the opportunity if he wants it. Ryan Murphy does do a lot of stunt casting- think Kim K on AHS. Or Lady Gaga when she did her season. I know she has an Oscar now but back then it was laughable.
My mom once told me I needed to study hard because I was a no go in the beauty dept and cannot marry rich. Donna is an Asian mom.
She said to you though, in private. She didn’t say it into the entire neighborhood or make an announcement at a PTA meeting. Parents who think it’s their job to “keep you in your place “ especially when you’re an adult, have lost the plot.
Mel, I think there is a deference between a child and a 35 year-old Superbowl champion. Travis isn’t getting traumatised by this.
@marie haha so true I have an Asian mom too and yea they don’t sugar coat their opinions about you.
I really don’t see anything wrong with Donna’s statements. Travis is not an actor and has a lot to learn. We know he’s a big personality but emoting as another character is totally different
Lady G wont a golden globe for AHS, her first big role. Don’t do her dirty like that haha
What about her shady comment re Travis and Taylor’s relationship? “It’s still new…”?
I don’t think she was being shady- i think she is saavy enough to know that any remark about Ms Swift will bring headlines, so it is best say something incredibly vague that produces the fewest clickbait opportunities for “media”.
Well… it is? I’ve seen people get so weird about this online. She’s a 70-something fame-adjacent boomer being super-careful with her words and likely not thinking of it in terms of famous-people relationships where you run off with your alligator man after two months. I’d imagine in her world ‘three, four, 10 years in is a long relationship.
People were all going ‘ooh, she hates Taylor’ after the interview and I’m here thinking yeah… but did you hear what she said about her own son? And I’d hazard a guess most people getting their knickers in a twist about it live in the same city as their in-laws. I live in a different country from mine, and was described as my partner’s ‘new girlfriend’ the first three years of our relationship…
It will be interesting to see how things land for Taylor and Travis after her tour ends. Lots of rumors about spending time in/buying property in the area between NYC and Philly, not far from his bro.
I’ve watched her body language around Taylor and I don’t think mama likes Tay.
My mom once told . “I think you lost him.” When a boyfriend didn’t call for 5 days. This was in high school.
Some parents are just blunt and it can be a good thing. I grew up in the South and my mom’s bluntness was the exception, not the rule. Women in my experience spend so much time softening the message that the message can get lost in the delivery. This is particularly in the U.S. South because my work deals with people all over the world and it’s different with U.S. Northerners and Europeans.
I just had this conversation with a couple of my working mom.friends that we have to switch up our delivery of messages from our need to be direct in work settings to softer delivery with the PTA moms. Is this code-switching?
Yes. It’s code switching. You’re delivering the message in a way that your targeted audience will receive and understand. Everyone does code switching whether they realize it or not.
That’s not code switching 😂
Sort of sad in a way. So aspiring unknowns have to contend not only with nepo-babies, but also those in other fields who are being hired just for name recognition.
I’m assuming it was just a bit part?
I was more struck by his apparent ability to mainfest. He works his butt off, but I somehow think it is easier to mainfest when you are born an athletically gifted white man who is decent on the eyes.
I assume it’s a small part too, he didn’t have months to work on some larger role. I kind of LOL though because I keep hearing ads for this show and they always list him as one of the 3 main actors, clearly just trying to capitalize on his name recognition.
I don’t blame people for striking while the iron is hot, and he’s certainly hustling, but at some point if you are everywhere all the time, it’s too much.
I’m team,” You don’t talk crap about your kids in public”. Drag them to hell and back to their face if you want or need to but don’t do that in public. It’s neither funny or cute especially when it’s their money that’s allowing g you to live that life.
Agreed. Even if my child was terrible at their thing they were trying to do, I would never throw shade on them in public.
That she is honest and down to earth and lacks the Hollywood polished/prepared/fakeness is absolutely refreshing.
THIS. You don’t talk crap about your partner or kids in public. Period. It’s not behavior that shows your loved ones that you’re proud of them, you support them, or that they can trust you.
Having said that, those glasses are a massive improvement on her, compared to the old wire frame ones. Good for her.
Travis Kelce is 35 years old. And a famous football player. Dating Taylor Swift. I think he’ll be ok.
IMO His mom looks like Meryl Streep if she just lived a normal life outside Hollywood.
I thought it was her at first!
Same!
She’s very matter of fact but this quote came before seeing his performance and was an answer to a comment/question about him trying new things. I actually think they have given their sons a gift of not being afraid of failure. And she is absolutely correct that we learn more from our mistakes, failures and heartbreak than anything else. Their parents gave them opportunities to experiment, to try things, and to learn. True failure is only when you quit trying
So, i watched the first two episodes- he is not in them.
We have no idea if he is going to be any good.
I did watch them- gross, but interesting. I’ll watch another episode.
(though the self-flagellating priest trope is overused and trite.
Though for me Ryan Murphy peaked with the People vs OJ- that was a remarkable miniseries. A lot of the other stuff- too much for me.
He’s super wealthy. He’s super famous. He’s super successful. He appears to be in a great relationship. He’s young. He’s on top of the world. His whole life is a mic drop moment to her negativity.
To quote Charlie Sheen: Winning! 🙂
Why is this super mean? I’m confused. She’s praising his inability to be afraid of failure and try something. Then she says he can get better if he works. I feel like this is growth mindset 101. We are not amazing at everything we do…especially the first time around. As a teacher (and a mom myself), I see kids have major perfectionist tendencies and the crippling anxiety of trying something they don’t think they’re going to be PERFECT at right away. Normalize being “bad” at stuff and the need to keep trying. Team Donna for this one and the way she delivers her message.
LOL exactly. I think it’s so weird that people are interpreting this as her shit-talking her child in public and not, ya know, being honest about her adult son’s limitations. Like, the dude is one of the best tight ends playing football right now–THAT is his career, not acting–I think he can take a tiny bit of constructive criticism from his mom.
Actors train for years to become the best just like athletes do so it’s understandable and frankly, expected if there’s a learning curve for Kelce when it comes to acting. His mother merely acknowledging that fact does not make her “mean”, “a bad mother” or worthy of being “dragged” FFS.
His mother’s honestly is probably one of many reasons that Kelce has remained mostly humble in the face of his sudden fame.
You folks on this site are weird. Women always get to be jackasses and then you all clutch your pearls when a man does the same thing, you can’t have it both ways. How about you keep your mouth shut about what you think are your grown child’s deficiencies. He gets to try and fail or succeed at something different just like anyone else and this is very much a “stay in your lane” adjacent comment. If a Father talked smack like this about their grown daughter like this everyone’s hair would be on fire. She can say whatever she wants to him, but why does she have to be a jerk in public? Come on now.
Hear, hear. Totally agree
It reminds me of how Jason Kelce talks about how formative playing an instrument was in development of his character, because everyone starts out terrible and there is no shortcut to excellence— you have to put in the practice. These are the family’s core values. But Travis seems to have been a bit of a screwup in his younger years so maybe his mom feels like he might need a reminder (in public so he’ll be asked to reflect on it in future interviews!)
Travis seems to crave the limelight, which is fine. I genuinely think that’s why he and Tay might make it. And he’s not wrong that he needs to leverage his football career for new opportunities before it’s over.
It’s not like Donna hasn’t also capitalized on the family’s fame. She recently did a sleep story, The Rules of Football, on the Calm app. It’s okay, but she doesn’t exactly have a soothing voice.
Honestly it seems as if the Kelce’s talk to and about each other in this open way all the time. It’s kinda touchy being wwaaay out there but she doesn’t say he should stop.
And, acting is a craft you build. Go for it Trav if you want to
LOL, I think Travis will be fine. He adores his mom, and I’m sure this isn’t the first dose of honesty he’s gotten from her.
(Not completely relevant, but my little brother — now a fully grown adult — was insanely handsome as a young adult. Like, stop-traffic handsome. His sisters, me included, made sure to keep him grounded because we didn’t want him to be an asshole. He’s the nicest guy in the world, and he still loves us.)