Travis Kelce made his highly anticipated acting debut on FX’s Grotesquerie tonight, and the Kansas City Chiefs tight end proved that his talents extend far beyond the football field. Fans were quick to praise Kelce’s performance, which added a surprising twist to the already suspenseful crime drama.
Grotesquerie follows detective Lois Tryon, played by Niecy Nash-Betts, as she works to uncover a series of unsettling crimes that plague a small town. As Lois digs deeper into the mysteries, the crimes begin to feel personal, fueling her determination to bring the perpetrators to justice. Kelce plays a recurring character, Ed Laclan, a recovering alcoholic and nursing orderly, who provides Lois with comfort and emotional support as she grapples with her husband’s (played by Courtney B. Vance) ongoing coma.
In the fourth episode, Kelce’s character, Ed, takes center stage during a memorable dinner scene with Lois. After attending an AA meeting together, Ed and Lois go out for a quiet dinner, where Ed opens up about his past. In a surprising and humorous reveal, Ed admits that before becoming an orderly, he used to be a male stripper who went by the stage name “Big Peter and his Banana Splitter.” This unexpected line sent fans into fits of laughter, with social media lighting up almost instantly.
One fan couldn’t resist commenting on the hilarious moment, saying, “Now Travis… Big Peter and his Banana Splitter,” followed by a string of laughing emojis. Fans of Kelce and Grotesquerie alike loved how the NFL star delivered the comedic line with perfect timing, adding levity to the otherwise intense series.
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The buzz surrounding Kelce’s acting debut didn’t stop with Grotesquerie fans. Many are eagerly awaiting the reaction of his brother, retired Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce, on their New Heights podcast, which the two co-host. Given their playful sibling rivalry, fans are expecting plenty of humorous commentary on Travis’s new role.
Taylor Swift’s fans also chimed in, drawing comparisons between Kelce’s role as an ex-stripper and rumors that have surrounded his personal life. “The haters tried starting rumors that Travis is a man-whore,” one Swiftie wrote. “Oh, how I love that he took on the role of an ex-male stripper and smooth talker.”
Though Kelce’s screen time between the third and fourth episodes was relatively brief, fans were impressed by his natural performance and are already calling for awards consideration. “I’m gonna be pissed off if Travis Kelce doesn’t get an Emmy nomination,” one fan tweeted. “I said what I said!!”
As Grotesquerie is known for its unexpected twists—thanks to showrunner Ryan Murphy—fans are excited to see where Ed Laclan’s character arc goes. Whether Kelce’s character remains a sweet confidant, takes a romantic turn, or reveals a darker side, viewers are eager to follow his journey. Given Murphy’s unpredictable storytelling style, anything is possible for Ed in upcoming episodes.
New episodes of Grotesquerie air on Wednesdays at 10 p.m. ET, with streaming available on Hulu the next day. As fans continue to shower Kelce with praise for his acting debut, one viewer summed it up best: “For someone who’s not an actor, Travis Kelce does a really good job in #Grotesquerie.”
With his strong debut, Kelce has proven that he’s more than just an NFL superstar. He’s now stepping into a whole new arena, and fans are excited to see what he’ll tackle next—whether it’s on the field or on screen.
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