Travis Kelce has built a reputation as one of the NFL’s biggest stars, but fame has also brought intense criticism. His relationship with Taylor Swift has pushed him further into the spotlight, putting old social media posts, heated moments and major brand partnerships under a microscope. While millions continue to support the Kansas City Chiefs tight end, several incidents have fueled a very different conversation about the football star.
Travis Kelce faced backlash over old tweets and Andy Reid incident
Some of the strongest criticism of Travis Kelce has followed him from his college years. Old posts from his Twitter account resurfaced in 2024, with several containing comments that critics described as sexist and insulting toward women and other people.One of the posts read, “As a man, You have something wrong with you if your [sic] going for girls that weigh more then [sic] you!!” Another said, “Haha I just caught myself judging every person that walked past me, whether they were ugly, fat, funny looking, sexy haha I’m trippin.” A third post targeted Clippers cheerleaders, stating, “Damn the clippers girls gotta be the s–tty girls that don’t make the lakers team, cuz they all was ugly.“Kelce addressed the controversy on his podcast, New Heights, explaining that he viewed Twitter differently when he was younger. “I was just using Twitter as, like, a diary,” he said.His on-field behavior has also drawn scrutiny. During Super Bowl 2024, Kelce became visibly frustrated after being taken away from a play and collided with Chiefs head coach Andy Reid. The moment quickly became one of the most discussed incidents of the game.Reid later played down the confrontation, telling CBS, “He keeps me young.”Kelce, however, acknowledged that his emotions had gone too far. “Sometimes those emotions get away from me, and that’s been the battle of my career.” He also admitted, “It’s definitely unacceptable, and I immediately wished I took it back. Coach Reid actually came right up to me after that and didn’t even have harsh words for me.”
Travis Kelce’s Pfizer and Bud Light ads sparked more controversy
Kelce’s commercial work has created another source of criticism, particularly among people who disagree with the brands he has promoted.His appearance in a Pfizer advertisement encouraging vaccination drew attacks from vaccine critics. UFC fighter Colby Covington was particularly harsh, saying on the PBD Podcast, “That’s irresponsible. Travis Kelce is one of the biggest pieces of s–t of all time, the fact that he’s advising people to do that.” Covington added, “You know he’s not doing it, he’s just telling people to do it because he’s getting paid off and bought for by Pfizer. It’s disgusting.”Kelce also faced backlash after appearing in a Bud Light campaign. The criticism reflected the political divide surrounding the beer brand after its partnership with Dylan Mulvaney.By February 2025, Fox News contributor Lisa Boothe summed up her criticism on X, writing, “My dislike of Travis Kelce isn’t just about Taylor. He was in the Pfizer ad, a Bud Light one, and pushed his coach. He just seems like a woke, arrogant jerk.”The controversy shows why Kelce remains such a polarizing figure. His popularity has expanded far beyond football, but so has the scrutiny. For a celebrity whose profile continues to grow, every public decision can become part of the conversation.