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By Michelle McGahan
Contributing Entertainment Writer
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Travis Kelce may want to be excluded from this "nepo boyfriend" narrative.
News broke on Wednesday, May 7, that the Kansas City Chiefs tight end just got cast in his first-ever major acting role — and not just any role: a part in iconic TV creator Ryan Murphy's latest project, Grotesquerie. Kelce, 34, will act alongside Emmy winner Niecy Nash, who already shared footage on set with the NFL star.
"This is what happens when WINNERS link up!! @killatrav Welcome to Grotesquerie," she captioned an Instagram video reveal.
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"Guys, guess who I am working with on Grotesquerie," Nash excitedly shared in the clip, pausing for dramatic effect — complete with a "dun, dun, dun" — before panning the camera over to a psyched Kelce.
"Jumping into new territory with Niecy!" the New Heights cohost declared.
While Kelce — who is currently living his best life amid major NFL triumphs this year and multiple new television projects in the works — is clearly pumped about his Grotesquerie role, some social media trolls believe he only got the part due to his relationship with Taylor Swift.
"Travis Kelce acting in a Ryan Murphy horror drama series? He's never beating the nepo boyfriend allegations," one wrote via X (formerly known as Twitter).
"The football to acting pipeline goes crazy but i guess that's a nepo boyfriend for you," another user tweeted.
"Travis you are a nepo boyfriend… you always will be," a third person wrote, while another chimed in: "Nepo boyfriend yas king😍."
Others, however, came to Kelce's defense, arguing that he has not only been in the spotlight for years, he is at the top of his game in the NFL. (In addition to his third Super Bowl win with the Kansas City Chiefs earlier this year, he just inked a historic, $34 million two-year contract with the team.)
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"I'm not disputing that his international stardom has grown because of the relationship," another fan tweeted. "However, Ryan Murphy shows are state based and Travis was known for awhile, especially after his SNL appearance pre Taylor. I don't think it fair to reduce his years of hard work."
2024 has undoubtedly been a banner year for Kelce, who, in addition to his NFL achievements, has also hosted Saturday Night Live, is set to host the upcoming game show Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity? and is producing the film My Dead Friend Zoe.
Last month, the ever-sunny Kelce shared that he is currently in his best-ever era amid all of his success (and romance with Swift, also 34, whom he began dating last summer.)
"I'm the happiest I've ever been," he told People magazine at the time. "I'm a guy that some people say is glass half full, half empty, and my glass is all the way full. It's all the way full."
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