Donna Kelce Defends Son Travis from the Dads, Brads and Chads: ‘They Don’t Realize the Pressure’ (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Donna Kelceis calling out the “dads, Brads and Chads!”

“You know, I don’t think they realize the pressure that people are under, whether they’re athletes or professionals that are in front of the camera. And it’s just very difficult, there’s a lot of things going on behind the scenes,” she says.

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Travis Kelce.David Eulitt/Getty

David Eulitt/Getty

The tight end’s mother adds, “You don’t realize how many times people are trying to keep you from catching the ball, or trying to trip you up or hit you… so it’s kinda hard when you’ve got people that are in your face 24/7.”

Donna Kelce.John Nacion/Variety via Getty

John Nacion/Variety via Getty

Donna attended the premiere as the Kelce family representative, as Travis was in Kansas City following his team’s victory against theAtlanta Falcons 22-17the day before.

Travis’ girlfriend Swift, 34, used the term “dads, Brads and Chads” to describe NFL haters in herTimecover story in December 2023 as she spoke about supporting himat his games.“I have no awareness of if I’m being shown too much and pissing off a few dads, Brads, and Chads,” she shared at the time.

While it hasn’t been easy hearing the remark from the haters, Donna tells PEOPLE, “It’s part of the whole thing. I’ve been doing it for 15 years now. It is what it is.”

“I know when they’re out there, they’re giving everything they can. And sometimes people fall short. You don’t want to, but sometimes there are other things that are going on,” she proudly adds of Travis.

“I’ve been watching these guys for years, ever since they were 3 years old on the field or playing sports or band or whatever at school — in plays,” she says. “You know, it’s just a mom watching her kids."

Grotesquerie’s first two episodes premiere on Wednesday, Sept. 25, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on FX.

source: people.com