Travis Kelce is speaking out about his brother's phone defense at Penn State

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – The beginning of the latest episode of the New Heights Podcast was more solemn than most, as Travis and Jason Kelce discussed the eldest brother’s actions during an incident at Penn State last weekend.

Jason, responding to a brawler who criticized Travis for dating pop star Taylor Swift, turned and grabbed a phone, turning it on. Video on social media showed him walking through a crowd near Beaver Stadium and fans asking for pictures and fist bumps when a fan started heckling him and appeared to shout an anti-gay slur directed at his brother for dating Swift went out.

When ESPN opened Monday Night Countdown from Arrowhead Stadium ahead of a 30-24 Kansas City Chiefs victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Jason apologized and said he “decided to greet hate with hate. I feel inadequate this week.”

Wednesday the Kelce brothers discussed the incident during the latest edition of the New Heights Podcast.

“I’m going to talk about this one more time and then hopefully we can stop talking about this really stupid situation,” Jason said.

“I’m with you, man,” Travis said.

“I’m not happy with the situation,” Jason said. “My response gave him the time of day and it also brought publicity to this situation. That’s what I regret. It didn’t deserve any attention, it’s really stupid, and if I just keep walking it’s a damn nothingburger. No one sees it and now it’s out there and it just perpetuates the hatred.

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Jason acknowledged that what appeared to be the student’s repeating of his anti-gay statements was the case, and that was his biggest regret.

“The word he used is just ridiculous and it takes it to another level,” Jason said. “It’s right near the wall, f—— over the line. In the heat of the moment I thought, ‘What can I say that’s going to get back at him, I’m going to throw it right back in his face because I fucking hate him.’ I know now that I shouldn’t have done that.”

Penn State police are now investigating the incident between the retired Philadelphia Eagles center and the fan. The police incident log included an entry recorded Saturday in which “an officer observed a visitor damaging personal property.”

“I know it’s weighing on you,” Travis said on the podcast, two days after the Chiefs improved to 8-0 in 2024 with a win, including a career-high 14 catches for the 35-year-old tight end. “That’s… stupid. You shouldn’t feel that much – obviously the research and the media view on it is that everyone is passing on the video of it – that will make the situation bigger than I think it actually is.

Travis continued: “The real situation is that some clown came up to you and talked about your family and you responded in a way that defended your family, and you may have used some words that you regret. to use. That’s a situation where you have to learn from it, and I think the fact that you’re owning it and speaking out about it shows how genuine you are to a lot of people in this world.

“It especially shows what you said on Monday night, that’s just not who you are. I love you brother.”

Travis and the Chiefs return to action on Sunday, November 10 at noon CT against the Denver Broncos. The match will be broadcast live on KCTV.