Donna Kelce is doing damage control for her son Travis Kelce, but NFL fans aren't having it. Over the weekend, screenshots of old tweets allegedly from the Kansas City Chiefs tight end's account resurfaced on X, sparking a fresh wave of criticism. The 37-year-old has been active on social media for over a decade, and some of his past posts have gone viral before. This time, however, his mother stepped in to defend him—but her claims have only made things worse.
In response to the viral screenshots, Donna took to social media to assert that the tweets weren't from Travis. “Not Travis’ handle and not his account!!” she wrote. The account that shared the screenshots has since been suspended, but that hasn't stopped fans from digging deeper. Reports indicate the tweets, which date between 2009 and 2011, came from the handle “@tkelce”—the same account that belongs to the three-time Super Bowl champion.
The backlash was swift. One fan replied, “girl yes it is his account 😭.” Another wrote, “Donna my girl that’s definitely his handle and account, and you know it.” A third added, “Why lie? It’s literally his account. 💀😂.” The tweets in question include one suggesting cheerleaders need to pass a “beauty test” and another making disparaging remarks about larger women.
This isn't the first time Travis has faced social media scrutiny. He recently “liked” an Instagram post from Saturday Night Live featuring Shane Gillis's controversial monologue. In the segment, Gillis joked about gym culture and made offensive comments about women's attire. “Also, I haven’t been to the gym in so long. I didn’t know women just dressed like whores now,” he said, drawing widespread criticism.
Among those calling out Gillis was actor Dan Levy, who took to Instagram to slam the joke. “Women wearing shorts at the gym does not make them whores. It makes the men calling them whores misogynists,” Levy said. He added, “I’m speechless that something like that can exist on live national television.”
Travis hasn't publicly commented on the Gillis monologue or the resurfaced tweets, but the timing is awkward. The Chiefs are gearing up for a tough stretch, and Travis's focus should be on the field—especially after his recent ankle injury raised concerns about his availability. The team is already dealing with questions about player safety, as fans have demanded action over hip-drop tackles that have caused injuries across the league.
Donna's defense of her son echoes a pattern seen in other sports families. Just recently, Texas coach Steve Sarkisian faced accusations of lying after his postgame comments, and WNBA star A'ja Wilson was similarly accused of dishonesty in her MVP speech. It seems like denial is a common tactic when athletes face backlash, but fans are increasingly quick to call it out.
While Travis hasn't addressed the controversy directly, his mother's intervention has only fueled the fire. Whether the tweets are truly his or not, the court of public opinion has already made its judgment. For now, the Kelce family is left to deal with the fallout as Travis prepares for the Chiefs' next game.
