Travis Kelce is standing up for Blake Lively amid the ongoing controversy surrounding her latest film, It Ends With Us. The Kansas City Chiefs tight end, who is currently dating Taylor Swift—one of Lively’s closest friends—praised the actress for her iconic role in Gossip Girl during the latest episode of his and brother Jason Kelce’s New Heights podcast.
The discussion began when Jason playfully asked Travis about his guilty pleasure TV shows. “What’s a show you’re slightly embarrassed to admit you watch?” he asked. Travis, 34, didn’t shy away from his answer. “I used to not tell everybody that I watched Gossip Girl growing up,” he admitted.
Jason was quick to poke fun at his younger brother, saying, “You should be embarrassed about that,” but Travis was unapologetic, defending his love for the hit teen drama. “Dude, it’s so good, though,” he responded with enthusiasm. Jason, who had never watched Gossip Girl, even questioned if Travis meant Gilmore Girls, but Travis corrected him and doubled down on his affection for the show.
“If you watch Gossip Girl, you can get in deep,” Travis explained. “Oh my god, Chace Crawford, Blake Lively… Shoot me, but I forget the rest of the cast names.” He went on to describe the show, which aired for six seasons on The CW from 2007 to 2012, as “awesome,” praising its drama-filled depiction of New York City high school life. “It’s a New York high school show with a lot of drama and basically everybody gossiping and talking s–t on each other,” he said.
Travis made it clear that he wasn’t embarrassed by his TV choices, saying, “I don’t care. You can’t judge me, dude. It is what it is.”
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His lighthearted support of Gossip Girl comes at a time when Lively, 37, has been under scrutiny due to controversy surrounding her latest project, It Ends With Us. The film, based on Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel about domestic abuse, has sparked backlash during its promotional campaign. Lively has faced criticism for promoting her haircare line during press tours for the film and for encouraging fans to wear florals to screenings, a move that some felt trivialized the heavy subject matter of the film.
In addition, old interview clips resurfaced in which Lively was accused of being rude to a reporter and using transgender slurs, adding fuel to the controversy. Speculation has also swirled about behind-the-scenes tensions between Lively and her It Ends With Us co-star and director, Justin Baldoni. Sources revealed that Lively felt “uncomfortable” working with Baldoni and that the two clashed over creative decisions, particularly regarding the final edit of the film.
Lively, who is known for her poise and charm, seemingly addressed the backlash by sharing an interview with the BBC in which she defended her character in the film. “She is not just a survivor, and she’s not just a victim, and while those are huge things to be, they are not her identity,” she said, emphasizing the complexity of the character she portrays.
Despite the controversy, Lively has remained close to her support system, which includes Swift and Kelce. Most recently, Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, Swift, and Kelce spent time together at Swift’s Rhode Island mansion, along with a few other high-profile friends like Gigi Hadid and Jason Kelce. This marked Lively’s first public appearance following the It Ends With Us backlash.
Lively has also been a frequent presence at Kelce’s NFL games, often seen cheering alongside Swift as the couple’s relationship continues to blossom. The close-knit circle of friends, including Lively, Reynolds, and Swift, have become fixtures in each other’s lives, both personally and professionally.
As the controversy around It Ends With Us unfolds, Lively can count on the support of friends like Kelce, who has proven that he’s not only loyal to Swift but also to her besties. With the football season in full swing and It Ends With Us set to release soon, all eyes will be on Lively and how she navigates the challenges ahead—both in Hollywood and in her personal life.
In the meantime, Kelce’s lighthearted support of Lively’s past work in Gossip Girl shows that no matter what drama is swirling, he’s got her back, both on the field and off.
