Former NFL star Rob Gronkowski shuts down ‘false narratives’ after Election Day controversy

Rob GronkowskiCredit: Gilbert Flores/Penske Media via GettyKey Points

Former NFL star Rob Gronkowski spoke out after being photographed by a Turning Point USA tent on Election Day.

Social media footage showed the New England Patriots alum posing for photos alongside fans with the organization’s logo in the background.

“It has been upsetting and eye opening to see the narratives,” Gronkowski wrote, in part.

Former NFL star Rob Gronkowski is setting the record straight after being spotted at the New Hampshire polls on Election Day alongside longtime partner Camille Kostek.

“It has been upsetting and eye opening to see the narratives around my visit to N.H. on Election Day with Camille,” the former athlete shared via Instagram Stories on Thursday. “In regard to the images and videos circulating we are not endorsed by or affiliated with Turning Point USA.”

Earlier this week, Gronkowski and Kostek were spotted taking photos with voters and candidates outside several polling locations in the state. The former New England Patriots tight end could be seen posing for photos and signing a young fan’s football jersey with a Turning Point USA tent in the background, according to videos shared on social media. (Turning Point USA is an organization founded by late conservative commentator Charlie Kirk.)

Gronkowski explained in his statement that he and Kostek went to Goffstown High School before greeting “excited fans yelling out our names” across the street. A spokesperson for Turning Point USA told CBS News that Gronkowski and Kostek walked by their tent on Tuesday, but was not with their group. (Celebrity athletes Mike Tyson, Danny Amendola, Kevin Youkilis, and Floyd Mayweather were also spotted at the N.H. polls on Tuesday.)

Rob Gronkowski and Camille KostekCredit: John Nacion/Getty

“We simply took some pictures and I signed some things for them before leaving. We took photos with people across the political spectrum throughout that morning,” he added. “We cannot control what the media has made of it and running with — so we are here to shut down the false narratives.”

Gronkowski concluded, “It’s disappointing to see an innocent moment stripped of context and turned into clickbait. Our message has always been and always will be to treat everyone with kindness and hope you all will do the same.”

Kostek, who has been dating Gronkowski for a decade, shared the message on her own Instagram. Following the statement, the model shared a selfie of herself and Gronkowski as they gear up for his official Patriots Hall of Fame induction ceremony, which is set to take place at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., on Saturday.

Patriots Chairman and CEO Robert Kraft announced in April that Gronkowski had been voted into the team’s Hall of Fame.

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“Rob Gronkowski’s performance on the field was extraordinary, but it was his infectious energy and consistently positive presence that truly set him apart,” Kraft’s statement read. “He always brightened everyone’s day. He earned the respect of coaches and teammates through his work ethic, preparation and unselfish approach, while redefining what it meant to play his position.”

He continued, “Rob became a fan favorite almost immediately and remained the standard at tight end for nearly a decade. We look forward to celebrating his induction into the Patriots Hall of Fame and, in time, the Pro Football Hall of Fame.”

Source: Entertainment