Josh Charles explains why he took a harsh swipe at Travis Kelce while filming Taylor Swift’s Fortnight

Josh Charles reveals why he called Travis Kelce a “d***” and the moment has since taken on a life far bigger than a playful on-set confession. What began as a candid remark rooted in football loyalty unfolded into an unexpectedly warm exchange that blended sports rivalry, pop culture, and personal honesty.For Charles, a lifelong Baltimore Ravens supporter, emotions were still raw when he crossed paths with the Kansas City Chiefs star during the filming of Taylor Swift’s Fortnight music video. The meeting happened long after a painful AFC Championship loss, and that memory lingered. Yet what followed was less about grudges and more about how perceptions can shift when competitive fire cools.

What happened on the Fortnight set that led Josh Charles to criticize Travis Kelce publicly

The story surfaced when Charles appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, where humor quickly set the tone.

Recalling the encounter, he admitted, "I’ve always liked Travis Kelce, I thought he was cool, but that year they beat us in the AFC championship game — they beat the Ravens — he was a real j**k that year." Charles did not hold back, adding that when they finally met, he told Kelce directly, “You know I always liked you, and this year you were kind of a D-*-*-*.

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Instead of offense, the response surprised him. “He laughed, and he said, ‘You know what, you’re right,' ” Charles recalled, a moment that instantly dissolved the tension.

The exchange happened against the surreal backdrop of Swift’s Fortnight set, where Charles and Ethan Hawke played lab scientists in a stylized scene inspired by Frankenstein. That creative environment sparked unexpected conversations. Charles later shared his admiration for Swift, writing on Instagram, "I’ve admired Taylor for a long time, but meeting her in person took my fandom to a whole new level,” before praising her as “Genuine, kind, approachable, and just an all around stellar human being — Not to mention a kick a*s director to boot!"Kelce, it turned out, left an equally strong impression. Their talk moved quickly from the awkward confession to football strategy and mutual respect. Charles explained that Kelce admitted the Chiefs were “most worried about that game” and leaned into extra confidence for a reason. The swagger, once annoying, suddenly made sense.By the end of their conversation, Charles’ view had fully changed. “He’s such a good dude,” he later told Fallon. “I really like him.” Also Read: Matt Kalil breaks silence with lawsuit, targeting ex Haley Kalil over humiliating viral comments claims