In a stunning escalation of tensions between Elon Musk and the NFL, Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce is now urging fans to “delete the X app” after Musk announced a ban on all Chiefs players from accessing Tesla products.

The billionaire CEO of Tesla and owner of X (formerly Twitter) posted late Sunday night:

“Effective immediately, Kansas City Chiefs players are ineligible for Tesla VIP programs, early tech access, and branded events. We do not support teams who reject American values.”

Just hours later, Travis Kelce fired back in a blunt interview with local Kansas City media:

“This app… it’s just toxic now. Elon’s using it to stir people up and s*** on anybody who doesn’t kiss his feet. If you care about sanity, just delete it.”

⚡ What Sparked the Tesla Ban?

Sources close to the Chiefs organization confirm that the team declined a proposed partnership from Tesla, which included co-branded electric vehicle zones at Arrowhead Stadium, sponsored player events, and Tesla’s new AI-driven athlete training tools.

While no official reason was given, insiders suggest the front office was concerned about Tesla’s political baggage, including Musk’s frequent public clashes with public figures, and his stance on free speech and media bias.

🏈 Travis Kelce Speaks for the Locker Room?

Kelce’s comments have sent shockwaves across the NFL. As one of the league’s most recognizable stars—with a massive fanbase and celebrity following due to his relationship with Taylor Swift—Kelce’s words carry weight far beyond the field.

“When a guy like Travis speaks up, it’s not just about football. It’s about culture,” said sports journalist Kay Adams on Monday morning.

Kelce didn’t mince words, calling X a “toxic playground for billionaires” and questioning why athletes should remain on a platform that is openly antagonistic toward them.

🚫 #DeleteX Trends: NFL Players Begin Exiting the Platform

Following Kelce’s comments, a wave of NFL players and influencers began deleting their X accounts or going silent, with “#DeleteX” trending by mid-Monday.

• Chiefs WR Rashee Rice simply posted: “Unplugged. #DeleteX”

• Former NFL star J.J. Watt posted: “This is getting weird. Very weird.”

• Even Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, known for avoiding controversy, said:

  “We want our guys focused on football, not fighting tech wars.”

🤖 Elon Musk Doubles Down: “Tesla Doesn’t Serve the Woke”

Elon Musk responded in typical fashion, reposting fan memes mocking Kelce and doubling down on his stance:

“Tesla doesn’t serve the woke. Play ball, don’t play victim.”

The comment sparked another round of backlash, with critics accusing Musk of intimidating athletes and politicizing American sports.

🇺🇸 Sports, Speech, and the Culture Clash

This isn’t just a Twitter spat—it’s a growing ideological rift between Musk’s brand of “free speech absolutism” and a new generation of athletes unwilling to stay silent.

With the NFL now directly in the crosshairs, league officials are reportedly concerned that Musk’s behavior could create rifts between teams, players, and tech sponsors.

“When a car company starts blacklisting athletes for personal views, that’s no longer business—it’s personal,” said media analyst Sarah Lang.