Jason Kelce Defends Brother Travis for Chugging Beer While Receiving Diploma

Jason Kelce is speaking up for his brother!

On April 13, rhe former Philadelphia Eagles center, 36, defended his brother Travis Kelce in a post in response to a fan criticizing the Kansas City Chiefs tight end for chugging a beer at the pair’s “commencement” ceremony during their recent New Heights Live podcast event at the University of Cincinnati. 

A fan initially questioned Jason on X (formerly Twitter) about his brother’s “graduation antics,” asking, “Doing what you did at a playoff game in buffalo is one thing but doing that at the college where he got kicked off the team for acting like a jackass prob wasn’t best idea.”

Jason explained in response that there was no need for the concern as the diploma ceremony wasn’t actually a real graduation event for the brothers.

“I know it looks like a graduation from the video, but this was actually at the end of a New Heights Live podcast that we put on to raise money for the University’s NIL,” he wrote back. “The university did this to poke fun at my brother and I for never really picking up our diplomas.”

On April 11, Jason and Travis, 34, received diplomas in a “surprise commencement” at the University of Cincinnati, while hosting their New Heights Live podcast event. 

In a video posted on X by local Cincinnati Bengals radio voice Dan Hoard during the ceremony, Travis came out onstage dressed in full graduation attire and chugged a can of beer in front of a cheering crowd before smashing it to the ground. He was then presented his diploma by the university president Dr. Neville Pinto.

“Receiving a diploma …Travis Kelce style @newheightshow,” Hoard wrote in the caption.

The university added in a post on X, “A surprise commencement we’ll never forget. Congratulations to Travis and Jason on (finally) picking up their diplomas!”

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Despite Travis earning a degree in interdisciplinary studies in 2022 and Jason having a bachelor’s degree in marketing, both brothers did not attend their commencement ceremonies, according to Cincinnati Enquirer.

The outlet reported that Jason and Travis’ parents Donna and Ed Kelce were in attendance at the diploma ceremony which was held at Fifth Third Arena. 

Prior to his now famous beer-chugging moment onstage, Travis was seen earlier at the live event  rocking some dance moves during the podcast taping as he swayed to a marching band rendition of girlfriend Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off” onstage beside his brother.