Travis Kelce, the Kansas City Chiefs tight end, recently labeled the 2016 reality dating show Catching Kelce as the worst decision he has made, expressing strong regret for his involvement. The show, which aired from October to November 2016, featured women from across the United States competing for his affection, but Kelce now openly criticizes the experience, calling it a poor choice in his career.
Early Relationships and Reality TV Experience
Before his current relationship with pop star Taylor Swift, Kelce dated sports reporter and social media figure Kayla Nicole on and off for five years. Prior to that, he was involved with Maya Benberry, who won his reality dating show Catching Kelce. The program consisted of seven episodes and aimed to blend NFL fame with the reality dating genre, but this experiment did not sit well with Kelce in hindsight.
Kelce Expresses Strong Regret Over Reality Show
During a recent appearance on Bussin’ With The Boys, Kelce did not hold back in sharing his negative feelings about the show. He revealed,
“didn’t set me up for anything.”
He went further by saying,
The worst thing I ever did was the dating show,
and,
‘Catching Kelce’ was the [expletive] worst thing I ever did.
The experience evidently left a lasting impression of dissatisfaction and regret.
Challenges and Criticism Faced During the Show
The show attracted attention as it featured contestants from all 50 states competing for Kelce’s attention. Although initially approached with enthusiasm, Kelce soon realized the harsh reality of participating in such a TV format. He admitted,
didn’t realize what reality TV really was
and described the entire process as a bad experience. Moreover, his teammates on the Chiefs frequently teased him throughout the season because of the show.
Reflecting on the show‘s public nature, Kelce said,
Oh [expletive], everybody is going to be able to see this forever. [I was like], God [expletive] it,
highlighting his frustration with the lasting visibility of his reality TV stint.
Financial Motivations and Moving Forward
In a 2023 interview, Kelce acknowledged that financial reasons played a significant role in his decision to accept the show, despite initially rejecting it multiple times. While he took the opportunity hoping it would bring benefits, the outcome proved disappointing. As a result, Kelce is unlikely to return to reality television or participate in any future dating shows, especially given his successful and high-profile relationship with Taylor Swift.