Trust me, you don’t wanna piss Donna Kelce off. That’s not to say she’ll ruin your life if you do — quite the opposite actually. I spent 25 minutes trying to uncover exactly what makes Mama K tick, and all it did was prove she has the patience and poise of a literal angel. “You don’t want to say something or do something you regret later,” the mother of football stars Travis and Jason Kelce tells Betches in an interview while promoting her partnership with Barefoot Wine.
And this is precisely why you don’t want to do anything that would make Donna mad!! She’ll be the bigger person, and you’ll end up being the inconsiderate asshole who was mean to America’s rising sweetheart. Not a good look, TBH. Don’t worry, though, getting in Mama Kelce’s good graces isn’t too hard… especially if you’re telling her how much you love her boys (or offer her something that rhymes with shmine).
Betches: Donna, you are an American treasure and people love you, so we want to make sure we stay on your good side and make sure the public knows how to NOT piss you off. So let’s set some things straight: What’s your biggest pet peeve?
Donna Kelce: Oh, dear. I am going to have to think about that one, but I think maybe with fans, it’s just if you can just let individuals finish their meal, that’s probably the only one. Besides that, I’m good. I’ll take as many pictures as you want!
Betches: Let you eat in peace!
DK: It would be great, but most everyone that I’ve ever come in contact with is very, very gracious and very friendly, so I never really have to worry about anything much.
Betches: Thank god. Now, when was the last time you got mad at your sons, either Travis or Jason? What did they do to tick you off? Tell us everything.
DK: I think the last time I really was upset was probably when they were in high school. They were fighting in the kitchen and they knocked the stove off of its hinges and there was a casserole in there with Pyrex and it shattered. That’s how much weight fell on the floor. So yeah, that was probably the last time.
Betches: Did you ground them?
DK: I took my purse and I walked out and I said, “get your own dinner!”
Betches: Or go to bed hungry!!
DK: I was picking glass out of the stove for a long time after that. Let me tell you.
Betches: My gosh, and not the Pyrex! What else did Travis and Jason do growing up that just drove you up the wall?
DK: There’s so many things. I think it’s the amount of times that they put a ball through a window. It was funny and not at the same time. They both were just characters. They were always laughing and everything was mostly just done with humor, so I couldn’t get upset at that. You have to have a good sense of humor and not take yourself too seriously, for sure.
Betches: Yes, preach, that’s great advice. What’s your go-to strategy for dealing with long customer service hold times or those automated robot ladies?
DK: Oh, wow. Yeah. I basically just go to the phone and look up some podcasts or whatever while I’m waiting so I can do that.
Betches: Do you listen to New Heights weekly?
DK: Yeah, I try as much as I can if I’m in town and I can do that.
Betches: Now, for our single girls who are going to be reading this, what’s your biggest dating red flag or thing that you think we should be watching out for when you’re trying to date someone?
DK: I think the biggest thing is that individuals [should] be kind and I think that you should treat people that are servicing you, whether it’s the wait staff or whether it’s people that are cleaning your plates off of the counter, whatever. You need to treat everyone with respect and with equality. I think that’s the most important thing that really tells a lot about an individual and if they treat people with respect and equality, then you’ve got a winner right there.
Betches: Write that on my tombstone!!! How do you deal with people who are bugging you?!
DK: Most of the time, as I’ve said previously, everybody’s pretty gracious and pretty friendly. They’re saying nice things about my boys. What mom doesn’t want to hear that? If it’s to the point where I have to get somewhere quickly to the restroom or something at the airport, that’s tough. You have to kind of dart in and out of traffic, but most of the time, it’s just a treat to know that they like my sons and that they enjoy, whether it’s on the podcast or on the field, and it’s a special feeling. It really is most of the time.
Betches: Yeah, I feel like you handled it like a pro when the boys broke your oven… taking your purse and stepping away.
DK: It’s time to go! Yeah. You don’t want to say something or do something you regret later. So the best thing to do is step away for a moment. For sure.
Betches: Now, it feels like you could be in charge of the NFL one day possibly. What is the first thing you would do? Anything that’s just GOTTA go???
DK: Oh, change all the turfs and all the stadiums. That’s what I would do. Yeah. Make it all grass, if possible. Change it to grass. That’s the one thing I would hope would happen someday.
Betches: Protect those knees! Do you get upset or ever want to get involved when you see people talking about your kids on social media or TV?
DK: I have, a few times, thought about it, but I would say 99% of the time, I just let it go because I know it’s just not positive. It’s not something that’s a good thing to do.
Betches: Do NOT piss off Mama Kelce because she WILL be the bigger person! Okay, so what’s your favorite drink to enjoy while watching a big game?!
DK: I love wine. It’s just very subtle. It doesn’t hit you hard, and I think that that just makes you relaxed and calms you down a little bit. Usually, I’m with Barefoot Pinot Grigio. it’s just something easy to do. It’s ready, it’s nothing that you have to prepare. Like wine, I think football should be [fun] and easy to enjoy. It brings people together, whether you’re with family, friends or at an event.
Betches: I’d LOVE to drink with you, Donna. It’s just so fun enjoying a drink while watching football (go sports!!) with your friends.
DK: Yeah, for sure. I wish you could have a flask sometimes, but not really! So anyway, yeah, it’s awesome and I love sports, so it’s just really fun.
Betches: Same, girl. Same. So it seems like we’re all gonna stay on your good side, at least I am for now. (I hope.) Am I still on your good side??!
DK: Oh yeah, no problem. I’m pretty easy. I’m pretty friendly, so most of the time you get me with my smiles. I know. It’s basically I’m a mom and I think people can relate to me because they’ve done exactly the same thing that I have, and that’s why I’m no different than any other sports mom.
Betches: Donna for president!!!
We’re not the only ones who will be on Donna’s good side. Fans can literally be at Donna’s side — like, legit next to her lol — and watch the Super Bowl rematch on Nov. 20 with three friends at the Arrowhead Stadium inside the Barefoot Bandwagon Box. (You can learn more about it here.) Just wait to ask for a pic until after she’s finished eating, please!!
Reporting by Ali Stagnitta
