Jason Kelce has admitted he was wrong when he described the Welsh as “posh, rich, upper class, beautiful white people” in his New Heights podcast with brother Travis.
The brothers this week discussed Travis’ Kansas City Chiefs’ move to sign former Wales rugby player Louis Rees-Zammit, who has switched sports and joined the ranks of the Super Bowl winners.
The NFL stars both praised Rees-Zammit for his bravery in making the move, with older brother Kelce saying: ‘When I think of Welsh, I think British people call it ‘posh’. I think about these rich, upper class, just beautiful white people. He is the common stereotype of what I would think of in a Welsh person.
“I don’t know if that’s an accurate stereotype, but that’s certainly what I think about and he helps continue that trend in my mind. I’m excited to see what this guy does. I know it will be a learning process, but I hope this man takes the world by a goddamn storm. It will be electric.
“With a smile like that, if he trains properly, this man will become the most marketable player of all time.”
Jason Kelce said this week at New Heights that he thinks Welsh people are ‘posh’
Kelce discussed new Chiefs’ signing, ex-Wakes rugby player Louis Rees-Zammit
Yes, I have come to realize that I was very wrong about this. Based on further review since these incorrect statements, I’m not sure why I had these prejudices in my head, but I have discovered that the Welsh look exactly like my kind of people. Glad I’m incredibly wrong
— Jason Kelce (@JasonKelce) April 18, 2024
But the ‘posh’ comments were picked up by Welsh people on social media, and Kelce – adapting to his global fame on the back of his brother’s dating Taylor Swift – responded to someone who wrote: ‘I’m Jason Kelce really appreciate it. he has been such a character for the past few months, but what is it about? Granted, Rees-Zammit is a well-behaved Vale of Glamorgan lad, but I’m not sure the Welsh are considered posh.’
Kelce said back, “Yes, I have come to realize that I was very wrong about this.
‘Based on further assessment since these incorrect statements, I’m not sure why I had these prejudices in my head, but I have discovered that the Welsh look exactly like my kind of people. I’m glad I’m incredibly wrong.’
Rees-Zammit stunned Wales rugby by announcing his decision to pursue a career in the NFL shortly before his country’s Six Nations campaign earlier this year.
Travis told Jason he has been in contact with the 23-year-old, but warned he faces a steep learning curve to make the adjustments at the Chiefs.
“It will be a humbling experience at first,” Taylor Swift’s friend said. ‘It’s not easy to just make that jump, they are two completely different competitions.
“He’s an athlete and that’s what the Chiefs saw. He’s a smart kid, a smart player. So eventually he will be able to pick up the foul.
“But it’s going to be a tough few months for him as he gets used to the NFL. We’ve been doing this since we were kids, so we’ll have those little instincts that we’ve built up over the years that he’ll have to catch up on.”
Travis Kelce spoke about his respect for Rees-Zammit for changing careers at the age of 23
Kelce warned his new teammate that the adjustment period will be “humbling.”
Despite admitting his initial concerns about Kansas City’s new arrival, Kelce is already relishing the prospect of playing alongside Rees-Zammit in the future, insisting he is ‘being as friendly as possible’.
“I’m really enjoying the guy’s energy so far,” he continued. “He’s super excited about the opportunity he gets, knowing that not everyone gets these opportunities.
‘He was an absolute star in the European rugby competition he was a part of. So if he makes the jump and tries to go from Wales to Kansas City, man… it’s a pretty bold move and a pretty bold move to become a man. ‘
Kelce also added, “The biggest piece of advice I gave him was try not to let it overwhelm you as much as possible, and know that everyone believes you have the potential to be able to play. So absorb as much as you can, learn as much as you can in the short time you have before the season.”