Josh Charles was honored to be part of Taylor Swift’s “Fortnight” music video, but he couldn’t help but pick a bone with her fiancé, Travis Kelce, on set.
The Good Wife alum, 54, and his Dead Poets Society costar Ethan Hawke appeared in Swift’s 2024 music vid as mad scientists experimenting on the singer. The video won the coveted Video of the Year prize at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards, an accolade Charles reveled in during his appearance Monday, January 5, on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
“I got a Moon Man. It was pretty cool,” Charles told host Jimmy Fallon. “The Video Music Awards, when I grew up, was the thing.”
He added, “The idea that that came just speaks to what an incredibly generous, awesome person Taylor Swift is.”
Fallon then asked Charles about speculation that he “got into a fight with Travis Kelce on set,” as previously alluded to by Hawke, 55, in a September 2025 interview.
Charles clarified, “A fight? No, he exaggerated this. It wasn’t a fight.”
The Handmaid’s Tale actor went on to explain that he called out the Kansas City Chiefs tight end, 36, over the Chiefs’ victory over his hometown team, the Baltimore Ravens, in 2023.
“I’ve always liked Travis Kelce. I just thought he was so cool,” Charles said. “But that year they beat us in the AFC Championship game — they beat the Ravens — he was a real jerk that year. So I kind of fell off of him.”
Fast-forward to filming the “Fortnight” music video, Charles said, “When I met him, I said, ‘You know I always liked you and this year you were kind of a d***.’”
A shocked Fallon, 51, said, “You said that to Travis Kelce? He’s one of the most lovable people I know!”
Charles responded, “I did. I said, ‘What was up with that?’ And he laughed. He was like, ‘You know what, you’re right. I’m gonna tell you why.’”
According to Charles, Kelce told him that the Chiefs were “most worried about that game” at the time.
“He’s like, ‘I knew I had to come in with some swagger,’ and he did,” Charles said. “He got one of our veterans to commit a personal foul. He got in our heads, and it worked for them, and they won the game.”
Charles added, “He was actually great. We talked all different kinds of football. Such a good dude. I really liked him a lot.”
Fallon agreed that Kelce is “the most fun human being” and said he can’t watch the NFL star’s games because “I can’t root against him.”
Charles responded that while he likes Kelce “a lot,” when it comes to football, “I’ll root against him.”
Swift, 36, released “Fortnight” as the first single from her chart-topping album The Tortured Poets Department in April 2024.
At the time, Charles gushed about getting the chance to collaborate with the singer.
“I’ve admired Taylor for a long time, but meeting her in person took my fandom to a whole new level,” he captioned a screenshot from the music video posted to Instagram. “Genuine, kind, approachable, and just an all around stellar human being – Not to mention a kick ass director to boot!”
