On July 4, as families across the country gathered to celebrate Independence Day, enjoy good food, and spend time with loved ones, Jason Kelce, center for the Philadelphia Eagles, took to social media with a message that sparked more controversy than unity.
Kelce shared a video on Instagram of himself watching fireworks explode over the ocean from the beach. His caption read:
Man I love the 4th! One of the great days we all can set aside our differences in this country, and enjoy the one thing we all share in common. That we are American!
The post was accompanied by the line: “Cheers to you oh beautiful America.”
The backlash to his post
The video quickly drew attention, with many comments, including one from his brother Travis, who may have been watching fireworks alongside Taylor Swift at the time.
But the tone of the responses was far from celebratory. Many people pointed out that Kelce’s message came from a place of privilege, especially in light of the current political climate in the United States-a climate that has left many Americans feeling excluded or distressed rather than festive.
“I love you, bro, but your privilege is showing. You are able to set things aside, but not everyone has that privilege,” one user commented.
Another added:
“I really do love you Jason but no, we actually can’t just set aside our differences. The reason why I say that is because I actually do love this country and what this country is becoming is not something I’m proud of. But I think you know that.”
A third wrote:
“Dude, no. This caption is so beyond tone deaf and insulting. People are suffering. People will die because of what’s happening. Human rights are being lost. Do better. This is actually horrendous.”
One more user criticized:
“I’m not going to lie and say that I understand that you’re coming from a place of wanting unity but this caption is really disappointing.”
Another response urged him to take action:
You have an incredibly large platform, use it to highlight the injustices and human rights violations currently happening in this country. Through Kylie, we know that you’re both so committed to teaching your daughters how to treat others kindly and the power of being a strong woman, show them how they can use their voices to speak up for the underprivileged.
It’s worth noting that the Kelce brothers have typically tried to avoid controversy, especially when it comes to politics.
In 2024, Travis Kelce stated that he wouldn’t mind visiting the White House if they were to win the Super Bowl, regardless of who held the presidency.
It’s always an honor to go to the White House… I kinda mentioned it last time, any time I get a chance to be recognized by the President of the United States and get to go with my teammates and a group of men and women that I had success with to the point we get acknowledged… I’m doing it every time no matter who’s up there at the helm. No matter what’s going on in this world. It’s just such a cool opportunity.
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