Taylor Swift‘s boyfriend, Travis Kelce, debuted a bold new look that sparked a frenzy among fans, who debated whether the style suited him or not.
On October 17, 2024, the Kansas City Chiefs tight end was seen in an Instagram video that started as a casual outfit check but quickly turned into a transformation reveal. The clip transitioned from him with his usual short hair to him in a fresh look featuring long hair with a mullet.
The hairstyle change was Kelce stepping into character for FX’s latest horror fiction, “Grotesquerie.” He plays a nurse, Ed Laclan, in the show, which is his first-ever scripted role.
The clip revealing his long hair and a mullet was shared on “Grotesquerie” official Instagram account and captioned, “N̶o̶t̶h̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶i̶s̶ ̶w̶h̶a̶t̶ ̶i̶t̶ ̶s̶e̶e̶m̶s̶. No one is who they seem.”
Travis Kelce’s co-star, Niecy Nash, commented on his meme-worthy mullet, “He went from being a Rico Suave to somebody I didn’t recognize.”
Fans also had plenty to say about Kelce’s transformation, with reactions ranging from excitement to playful disapproval. One admirer humorously remarked, “Whatever he’s selling, I’m buying! What a transformation.”
Another fan seemed stunned by the change, writing, “That’s an insane transformation omg, so excited to see what’s coming 👀👀👀.“
While some praised his acting skills, not everyone was thrilled with the new style. One fan shared his reservations, “He’s great in that show 👏.. [sic] this look however is not his best 😂😂 but he’s killing it as the character.”
Another joked, “Resembles a country star! Lol,” while a more critical comment urged, “Good Lord, don’t ever look like that ever again yuck.”
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Kelce had been awaiting fan reactions. Before the premiere of “Grotesquerie,” he shared his excitement, expressing that he couldn’t wait to see how everyone would respond to his appearance in a mystery-thriller show.
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Ryan Murphy, who co-created, wrote, and directed “Grotesquerie,” has spoken about how Kelce is excelling as an actor as well as the possibility of Taylor Swift joining season two of the show.
Murphy mentioned having spoken with Swift’s team over the years and expressed admiration for her talent. While he didn’t confirm anything concrete, he hinted at his enthusiasm, saying he would love to work with her if the opportunity arose.
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Murphy also revealed, “I was so shy talking to Travis about her. But he’s very sweet about it and respectful. They are a pop-culture phenomenon. It’s a very interesting dynamic, the way they’ve captured the imagination of the world.”
The director reflected on working with Kelce, highlighting a standout scene in episode three where the Chiefs tight end’s character drives off in a red getaway car—a subtle nod to Taylor Swift.
Murphy explained, “They drive off to this black limbic space, which makes absolutely no sense. But it does make sense now, because you know [Lois] is in a coma,” referencing a character in the show.
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Kelce and Swift regularly support each other in their professional endeavors, often making headlines for their distinctive outfits at various events, including football games. As we previously reported, his stylish look at Arrowhead Stadium for Monday Night Football in early October 2024, sparked talks among fans.
With chic dark shades covering his eyes, white and black sneakers in one hand, and a beverage in the other, Kelce swaggered into the stadium. He donned a charcoal shirt, knee-length white pants, and black sneakers, and accessorized his ensemble with a striking silver watch.
Video footage shows Kelce rocking a mustache and a taper fade hairstyle as he makes his way through the venue, with photographers snapping pictures of him. Upon seeing the media of the sports star’s appearance, many spectators took to online platforms to share their opinions.
A group of people were unimpressed with Kelce’s choice of attire and hair. “Hair and outfit like a 90’s [sic] suburban high schooler 😂,” opined an observer. A user with a similar sentiment remarked, “Dude dresses like an eighth grader who just wished he was an adult on the Zoltar machine.”
Referencing Kelce’s demeanor and hairstyle, someone else expressed, “That haircut and swagger don’t mix.” “Hate the haircut,” penned a netizen.
Meanwhile, another commenter was simply taken aback by how unrecognizable he appeared. They marveled, “He doesn’t even look like the same guy!!! WOW!!!”
However, amid the critiques and surprise came a few praises. “Oooooh he looks GOOD!” exclaimed a fan while another reiterated, “Look is growing on me he looks Good!” Jumping on the complimentary bandwagon, another admirer gushed, “He looks soooooo [sic] much more handsome with a beard.”
On the other hand, some people are under the impression that Kelce’s look was influenced by Swift. “He really changed the way he looked based on who he is dating 😂,” noted a Facebooker while someone else observed, “Without the girl .. [sic] and it doesn’t even look like him.”
While Kelce’s style influencer may not have arrived with her beau, she made sure she was there when it was time for the game, laying break-up rumors to rest. Swift arrived at Arrowhead Stadium in an eye-catching plaid, off-the-shoulder dress designed by fashion powerhouse Vivien Westwood.
Adding extra flair to her ensemble, she wore black platform boots, carried a stylish heart-shaped purse, and accessorized with gold jewelry. Before attending the game, Kelce had confirmed Swift would be there in an online video posted to TikTok by PageSix.
Kelce, who was making his way through a crowd of fans and reporters, was initially asked what he wanted for his birthday as he had just celebrated turning 35 on October 5, 2024. “You already know. I’ll take another Super Bowl,” he revealed.
At a different moment in the video, a reporter asked him whether Swift was there with him. In response, the footballer disclosed, “She will not be here right now, but I know she’s coming for the game.”
@pagesix#TravisKelce reveals his big birthday wish.
Lo and behold, as Kelce said, Swift arrived to cheer him on for the match. Her attendance at this event was a surprise as it came after she missed his previous game.
