DINH DOONG

NFL star Travis Kelce came to the defense of actress Blake Lively, who has faced controversy surrounding her latest film, It Ends With Us.

During the latest episode of New Heights, the popular podcast Kelce hosts with his brother Jason Kelce, Travis praised Lively’s work on Gossip Girl and stood by the actress amid recent backlash.

The conversation began when Jason, 36, asked Travis about any “guilty pleasure” TV shows. To the surprise of many, the 34-year-old Kansas City Chiefs tight end revealed that he had grown up watching Gossip Girl. “I used to not tell everybody that I watched Gossip Girl growing up,” Kelce admitted, much to the amusement of his brother.

While Jason joked that Travis should be embarrassed, Kelce enthusiastically defended the teen drama, calling it “so good.”

He went on to name-drop some of the show’s stars, including Blake Lively and Chace Crawford, calling the series an “awesome” exploration of New York high school life, full of drama and gossip.

Kelce’s love for Gossip Girl comes at a time when Lively, 37, is facing criticism related to her latest film, It Ends With Us, which premiered on August 9. Adapted from Colleen Hoover’s best-selling novel, the film tackles themes of domestic abuse, and Lively’s involvement has been scrutinized. She was slammed for promoting her hair care line during press tours for the movie and faced backlash for encouraging fans to wear floral outfits to screenings.

Additionally, tensions reportedly brewed on set between Lively and her co-star and director, Justin Baldoni, with insiders claiming the two clashed over the film’s final cut. These controversies were further fueled when old interview clips resurfaced, showing Lively being rude to a reporter and using transphobic language.

Despite the drama, Kelce, who began dating Taylor Swift last summer, has forged a strong bond with Lively, one of Swift’s closest friends. Recently, Kelce and Swift spent time with Lively and her husband, actor Ryan Reynolds, at Swift’s Rhode Island mansion, a gathering that also included model Gigi Hadid and Jason Kelce with his wife, Kylie.

Kelce, speaking candidly on his podcast, brushed aside the notion of “guilty pleasures,” saying, “I don’t care, you can’t judge me. It is what it is.” He shared admiration for Lively’s acting talents, noting how Gossip Girl was a key part of his TV-watching history.

Meanwhile, Lively has addressed the It Ends With Us criticism indirectly, resharing a BBC interview in which she discussed the complexities of her character. “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,” Lively explained.

As the controversy continues, Lively has been frequently spotted supporting Swift at several of Kelce’s NFL games, demonstrating the close-knit friendship between the actress and pop star, as Kelce and Swift’s relationship blossoms. The Chiefs tight end has remained a vocal supporter of both Swift and Lively, handling the spotlight with humor and grace.

For now, Kelce seems to be enjoying the success of his relationship with Swift and his friendships with her inner circle, while focusing on his season with the Kansas City Chiefs. Fans will be watching closely as the tight end continues to balance his personal and professional life, with his support for Lively standing out as yet another example of the couple’s tight-knit community.