NFL fans are devastated Rob Gronkowski’s performance on Aaron Hernandez’s new show, and ‘Gronk’ revealed an incredible fact about the actor who played him this week.
Actor Laith Wallschleger, who plays Gronkowski in Aaron Hernandez: American Sports Story — the new show chronicling the latter’s journey from tight end in the NFL to convicted murderer — went viral for his over-the-top impersonation of Gronkowski in a scene from the show .
And by continuing to talk Up and Adams from FanDuel TV with Kay Adams afterwards, Gronkowski revealed that Wallschleger is actually a good friend of his, who is often his body double in commercials.
Gronkowski added that he has known Wallschleger, a former University of Delaware college football player, for 14 years.
“He definitely went over the top, and I feel like it just fit the show perfectly, especially with all the other characters and coach [Bill] Belichick and just see [Patriots owner] Robert Kraft on this show too,” Gronkowski said.
Rob Gronkowski revealed that the actor who plays him in the new Aaron Hernandez series is actually a good friend of his
Gronkowski believes that Laith Wallschleger’s portrayal of him was “exaggerated.”
The 35-year-old admitted that his friend nailed his smile in the scene, in which he and colleague Hernandez – who died by suicide in prison in 2017 – introduced themselves in the Patriots’ locker room.
Adams was stunned by Gronkowski’s revelation, and Tom Brady’s former favorite target even told Adams she had probably met him before.
In the now-viral scene, Gronkowski somewhat cartoonishly informs his new teammate that “they call me Gronk” before excitedly punching Hernandez in the chest before practice.
Fans also criticized the fact that Hernandez’s actor bore little resemblance to the real player.
Up and Adams host Kay Adams was stunned by Gronkowski’s admission to her show
Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez were teammates with the New England Patriots
“This is why sports biopics never work. I can’t wrap my head around the fact that they cast a 6-foot-10 chubby guy as Aaron Hernandez,” said a fan on X.
“How low was the budget for this thing?” another added.
“This show looks so cringe, but this guy has a good grunt.”
The latter sentiment proved to be a common one, as many other fans praised Wallschleger for the accuracy of his “Gronk.”