Travis Kelce ‘Owes’ SNL Cast Member Punkie Johnson ‘Forever’ After She Helped Get Him Into an SNL Afterparty

Travis Kelce has become more of a household name than ever in the months since his relationship with Taylor Swift began, but he hasn’t always been all that recognizable.

Comedian and Saturday Night Live cast member Punkie Johnson revealed on Late Night with Seth Meyers on Tuesday that Kelce, 34, was once stopped by security at an SNL afterparty — and she had to step in to help him gain entry.

Johnson, 38, recalled security telling him, “‘You can’t get in, bro, you’re not on the list,’” after Kelce had “come to the show” earlier that night.

“And I’m sitting up there like, ‘Why isn’t he listing his resume?’ ‘Cause I’m on SNL, I’m like a D-list celebrity and I would’ve been like, ‘I’m on SNL! I know Lorne Michaels!’ But he was just sitting up there just being so innocent, like, ‘Oh my gosh, should I call someone?’”

Johnson then took it upon herself to rescue the Kansas City Chiefs tight end and make security aware of just who they were denying.

“So I went over there and I was like, ‘This is a Super Bowl Champion! He is doggone the greatest tight end in the doggone NFL!’ I was saying everything he should’ve said. I was like, ‘He’s on my list, come on Travis!’”

The pair then became “forceful friends,” Johnson joked. “I was like, ‘You’re gonna take pictures with me every time you see me. I’m gonna be heavily a part of your life. We’re having children together — like you owe me for this party forever, bro.’”