Veteran comedian and writer Bruce Vilanch recently revealed that fans—and even some of his close friends—have hilariously mistaken him for Donna Kelce, the mother of Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce.
During his Monday appearance on The View, the 76-year-old humorist introduced himself to the audience in classic Vilanch fashion, poking fun at the viral confusion surrounding his resemblance to the NFL’s most famous mom.
“I would just like to say for you football fans out there, I am not Travis Kelce’s mother,” Vilanch quipped as the studio erupted in laughter.
“The resemblance is alarming, I will give you that.”
How Did the Mix-Up Start?
The Kelce family has skyrocketed in fame over the past year, thanks to Travis Kelce’s high-profile relationship with Taylor Swift. With increased media attention on the Kelces’ every move, Vilanch joked that the mistaken identity incidents have only become more frequent.
“People call me and say, ‘Dude, [are you] at the Super Bowl? What are you doing in a box with Taylor?’” he said with a laugh.
Given their similar features—blonde shoulder-length hair, bangs, and signature round, red glasses—Vilanch admitted that even he could see why some people are drawing the connection.
“And I looked and I thought, ‘Yeah, we are each other’s doppelgänger,’” he continued, before playfully addressing Donna Kelce directly.
“So, Donna, [call me].”
RELATED: Why Taylor Swift’s Friends Are Urging Her to Split from Travis Kelce—Despite Growing Engagement Buzz
Vilanch Leans Into the Joke
The award-winning comedy writer has fully embraced the humorous comparisons, even changing his Zoom display name to “Travis Kelce’s Mother” during a recent interview with The Telegraph.
“I want them to stay together because I want to ride this joke for a while,” Vilanch told the outlet, referencing Kelce’s romance with Swift.
A Legendary Career in Comedy
Vilanch has been making media rounds in preparation for the release of his memoir, “It Seemed Like a Bad Idea at the Time”, which hits shelves Tuesday. In the book, he reflects on some of his most infamous Hollywood moments—including the notorious 1989 Oscars musical number starring Rob Lowe and Snow White, widely regarded as one of the most disastrous Academy Awards openings in history.
Despite that misstep, Vilanch’s career as a comedy writer has been nothing short of legendary. He has penned material for 25 Oscars ceremonies, working with hosts such as Billy Crystal, Whoopi Goldberg, and Steve Martin.
While he didn’t contribute to this year’s Academy Awards, he gave high marks to the show’s host, Conan O’Brien.
“I thought [he] did a fabulous job,” Vilanch said, calling the show a “classy and well-handled” production.
Whether or not he’s mistaken for Donna Kelce again, Vilanch is happy to keep the joke going—and with Swift-Kelce mania still in full force, the comedian’s new alter ego might just have a long shelf life.
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