Hollywood actor Josh Charles has revealed he directly confronted American football star Travis Kelce, calling him a 'd***' to his face on the set of a Taylor Swift music video. The incident stemmed from Kelce's behaviour during a crucial NFL playoff game against Charles's beloved Baltimore Ravens.
The On-Set Confrontation Explained
The encounter took place in 2024 while filming the video for Swift's song 'Fortnight', a track from her album 'The Tortured Poets Department'. Charles, known for roles in 'Dead Poets Society' and 'The Good Wife', starred alongside fellow actor Ethan Hawke. It was Hawke who later sparked rumours of a 'fight' between Charles and the Kansas City Chiefs tight end.
Appearing on 'The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon', Charles set the record straight. "A fight? No, he exaggerated this. It wasn't a fight," the actor stated before detailing the true nature of their exchange. Charles, a native of Baltimore and avid Ravens fan, said his issue dated back to the 2023 AFC Championship game.
The NFL Rivalry That Sparked the Tension
In that pivotal game, which determined who would go to the Super Bowl, Kelce engaged in a notably brash pre-game routine. He disrupted the warm-up of Ravens kicker Justin Tucker, throwing Tucker's helmet and kicking his tee away. The Chiefs went on to win the tense contest 17-10, eventually securing their second consecutive Super Bowl title.
"I've always liked Travis Kelce. I just thought he was so cool. But that year they beat us in the AFC Championship game... he was a real jerk that year. So I kind of fell off of him," Charles explained to Fallon. This led to his direct approach on the video set, which later won a 2024 MTV Video Music Award.
"When I met him, I said 'You know I always liked you and this year you were kind of a d***,'" Charles admitted. A shocked Fallon responded, "You said that to Travis Kelce? He's one of the most lovable people I know!"
Kelce's Response and Lasting Football Loyalty
According to Charles, Kelce took the blunt criticism in good humour. "He laughed. He was like, 'You know what, you're right. I'm gonna tell you why,'" the actor recounted. Kelce confided that his team was "most worried about that game" and that he knew he "had to come in with some swagger."
Charles relayed Kelce's reasoning: "He got one of our veterans to commit a personal foul, he got in our heads, and it worked for them and they won the game." Despite the poor result for his team, Charles had to concede that Kelce was "actually great" in person and they talked football at length. "Such a good dude. I really liked him a lot," he concluded.
However, the actor's sporting allegiance remains firm. When it comes to future on-field encounters, Charles maintains, "I'll root against him." The story provides a humorous insight into how real-world sports rivalries can spill over into the most unexpected places, even a pop superstar's music video.
