Kansas City Chiefs star TE Travis Kelce has found himself in the media for much more than his on-field play because of his relationship with Taylor Swift.
Once Kelce and Swift were publicly together, in a sheer matter of weeks it became commonplace to see them on the TV, in magazines, and all over social media. Once she started regularly attending Chiefs games, the camera was oftentimes glued to her reactions.
But in the age of misinformation, and with some online publications prioritizing quick clicks over accuracy, Kelce felt the need to call out one media outlet for framing a story about him and another NFL star.
Travis Kelce Rips TMZ for Report of Dinner With Christian McCaffrey
Last week, TMZ reported that Kelce “was not lonely without Swift” as he was seen at the Nobu restaurant in Malibu, Calif., at the same time as San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey and his fiancée Olivia Culpo.
TMZ confidently reported that the two NFL stars were at dinner together just weeks after Kelce’s Chiefs defeated McCaffery’s 49ers in the Super Bowl. TMZ even referenced Kelce and McCaffrey “bro-ing out” despite the Super Bowl outcome. They detailed that Kelce was “keeping busy” while his girlfriend was in Singapore for her popular Eras Tour.
But here’s the catch with that story. Kelce and McCaffrey were not hanging out together.
In fact, Kelce claims he actually had no idea that McCaffrey was even inside the restaurant at the same time. He addressed this on Wednesday’s episode of the New Heights podcast.
“I went to California, and I got caught going to Nobu at the same time as Christian McCaffrey,” Kelce said. “If I would have known that him and Olivia were there, I would have sent over a drink or at least come over and said congrats for the unbelievable season.”
McCaffrey rushed for 1,459 yards while receiving an additional 564 yards in his first full season with the 49ers. His 14 rushing and seven receiving touchdowns were a fantasy football manager’s dream, fueling Kyle Shanahan’s high-powered offense through the playoffs and to the Super Bowl.
“But I didn’t see that he was there, and sure enough, TMZ is throwing it out.”
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Of course, the added attention on Kelce stems from his off-the-field relationship with Swift. The new power couple received a ton of media attention throughout the NFL season, and it continues to follow Kelce into the offseason.
“It’s f—— ridiculous,” Kelce added. “So don’t believe everything you read, especially on what I got going on.”
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