CBS host Gayle King corrected on air after floating Travis Kelce DNC appearance despite Chiefs’ preseason game

The names of several A-listers were mentioned as possible surprise guests on the final night of the Democratic National Convention (DNC), including celebrities like Beyoncé and Taylor Swift, but one NFL star linked to Swift was also floated as a potential attendee.

The only problem? He was on the sidelines somewhere else.

Travis Kelce sidelines

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce did not play in the Chiefs’ final preseason game against the Chicago Bears at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, on Thursday. (David Eulitt/Getty Images)

CBS host Gayle King said Thursday that Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce had “reached out” to Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign with interest in attending day four of the convention.

However, the Chiefs were slated to play in their final preseason game against the Chicago Bears at Arrowhead Stadium with an 8:20 p.m. kickoff time.

“The Taylor Swift rumor is interesting to me because I was told a couple of days ago that Travis Kelce also had reached out to the Harris campaign when it was first announced and said that he wanted to be here on the night that she was speaking. We’ll see if that is true,” said King.

However, she was quickly reminded by her co-hosts of Kelce’s scheduling conflict.

Gayle King broadcasts

“CBS Mornings” co-host Gayle King reports live from the United Center in Chicago for the 2024 Democratic National Convention. (Michele Crowe/CBS News via Getty Images)

 

Both Norah O’Donnell and Nancy Cordes chimed in about Thursday night’s game against the Bears, but King was unrelenting.

“I know he has a game, but that doesn’t mean he’s playing,” she said.

King did, however, admit that the rumor could be “part of the ‘keep hope alive’ plan.”

Travis Kelce sidelines

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce looks on during the game against the Chicago Bears at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, on Thursday. (William Purnell/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

While Kelce did not appear at the United Center in Chicago on Thursday night, he also did not play in the final preseason game. Additionally, while the NFL schedule may have thrown a wrench in Kelce’s reported intentions to appear, the DNC also threw a wrench into Chiefs fans’ TV viewing plans.

The Kansas City Star reported Thursday that the broadcast in the area was set to air on KMCI instead of the usual KSHB. However, the DNC would be airing on TV instead of football. NFL Network was also airing the game, but due to blackout restrictions, fans in Kansas City would not be able to stream the game there.