Charles Barkley had an invitation to Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s star-packed wedding, but the NBA legend decided the event was not for him.
PEOPLE reported that Barkley confirmed he “politely declined” the invitation during an appearance on Unfiltered with Ricky Bo & Bill Colarulo.
Swift and Kelce married July 3 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, with about 1,000 guests in attendance.
Barkley Said Weddings Are Not His Thing
Barkley said he received an invitation but chose not to attend because he generally avoids weddings and funerals. Entertainment Weekly reported that he expected the event to be too overwhelming for his taste.
He also joked that he thought the wedding would be a “crap show,” not because of Swift or Kelce, but because of the size, attention and spectacle surrounding it.
Barkley made clear that he appreciated being invited. He said he loves Travis and Jason Kelce, has met Swift once and thought the invitation was special.
He said he would rather relax, play golf and avoid dressing up for a major formal event.
Barkley Appeared on The Steam Room
Barkley has a public connection to the Kelce brothers, and Travis has appeared on Barkley’s podcast The Steam Room. Entertainment Weekly also noted that Kelce once told Barkley he had always wanted his name to be Charles.
He Was Not the Only Famous No-Show
Barkley joins a growing list of public figures who have spoken about missing the wedding. Entertainment Weekly reported that James Taylor, Ryan Seacrest, Robert Pattinson and Mark Hamill were among those who confirmed they were invited but did not attend.
The guest list was huge, but so was the list of celebrities asked afterward to explain whether they were there, why they skipped it or what they knew about the night.