ST.Jason Kelce Admits He’s Never Read Hamlet — But Taylor Swift’s Clever Reaction to His Confusion Over The Fate of Ophelia Has Fans Divided
Jason Kelce has never been afraid to speak his mind — whether on the field, behind a microphone, or, apparently, when admitting his literary blind spots. The retired NFL legend and podcast host had fans laughing this week after confessing that he’s never read Hamlet, even though the famous play inspired one of Taylor Swift’s most poetic songs, The Fate of Ophelia.
“I’ve Never Read Hamlet” — The Confession That Started It All
During a new episode of New Heights, the podcast Jason co-hosts with his brother Travis Kelce, the conversation turned to Taylor’s new album The Life of a Showgirl and its breakout track, The Fate of Ophelia.
“I’ll be honest,” Jason said with a laugh. “I had no idea what the song was about until I Googled it. I’ve never read Hamlet, so when she started singing about Ophelia, I thought it was some mythological figure or something.”
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The confession had Travis bursting out laughing beside him. “Bro, you just admitted that to the entire world,” Travis teased. “Taylor’s gonna make you read Shakespeare next!”
Taylor’s Reaction? Pure Gold
According to fans who follow both brothers closely, Taylor took Jason’s comment in stride — and in perfect Taylor fashion. Sources close to the singer say she found the moment “adorably honest” and sent Jason a signed copy of Hamlet with a playful note:
“Homework for the next family dinner
— T.”
The move instantly went viral. Fans couldn’t get enough of the sweet, teasing gesture, flooding social media with memes and jokes. One user wrote:
“Jason Kelce getting homework from Taylor Swift is the crossover I didn’t know I needed.”
Another commented:
“She really said, ‘You can’t sit at this table without knowing Ophelia!’”
The Fate of Ophelia — The Story Behind the Song
For those who missed the deeper meaning, The Fate of Ophelia takes inspiration from Shakespeare’s Hamlet. In the play, Ophelia is a young woman destroyed by love, grief, and betrayal. Her tragic drowning became a timeless symbol of heartbreak and loss.
Taylor reimagines that pain as redemption. The lyrics — “You dug me out of my grave and saved my heart from the fate of Ophelia” — transform the classic tragedy into a story of healing and rebirth.
Released as a music video on Travis Kelce’s birthday, the song instantly sparked fan theories that Taylor was connecting her art to her real life — perhaps celebrating love that feels like salvation instead of sorrow.
Jason’s confusion, meanwhile, only added a lighthearted twist to an otherwise emotional piece.
Jason Being Jason
If you know Jason Kelce, you know his humor. The former Philadelphia Eagles center is known for his grounded personality, dad jokes, and his signature laugh. His “Hamlet” confession wasn’t embarrassing — it was endearing.
“Jason’s the kind of guy who will roast himself before anyone else does,” one fan commented. “He just owns it.”
And Taylor’s response made it even better. Instead of turning it into a “book-smart vs. football guy” joke, she used it as a sweet moment to connect with her boyfriend’s family — showing again why fans love her warmth as much as her wit.
Why Fans Can’t Get Enough
Social media was buzzing with clips from New Heights, especially the moment Jason admitted, “I didn’t get it at all, man. I thought Ophelia was a mermaid or something.”
Within hours, #HamletChallenge began trending, with Swifties posting clips of themselves reading Shakespeare “in honor of Jason Kelce’s English class.”
One popular TikTok caption read:
“Taylor dropped The Fate of Ophelia on Travis’s birthday, Jason confessed he never read Hamlet, and somewhere Shakespeare is smiling.”
More Than Just a Joke
Beyond the laughs, fans see something deeper in these moments — a reminder of what makes Taylor’s world so relatable. She writes songs with layers of meaning, yet she keeps her circle filled with people who are genuine, humble, and unafraid to laugh at themselves.
Jason Kelce’s easygoing charm and Taylor’s graceful humor created a moment that felt real — not rehearsed, not manufactured, just human.
As one fan perfectly summed it up online:
“Taylor writes poetry. Jason lives it accidentally.”
And that, perhaps, is the true magic of this pop-culture crossover — a Shakespearean story turned into something delightfully ordinary: laughter, love, and a little literary homework.
