Travis Kelce Hits Back at 'False Claims' About His Community Work amid Rumors He Bought a House to Turn It into Homeless Shelter

• Travis Kelce appeared to deny reports that he had purchased a $3.3 million home and was planning to turn it into a living facility for homeless youth on the latest episode of his New Heights podcast
• "Some false claims were thrown out there that I was doing something in the community that I was not. I’m not even going to talk about it specifically," the Kansas City Chiefs tight end said
• Kelce told listeners he "just wanted to set the record straight" following the rumors

Travis Kelce is keen to set the record straight when it comes to "false claims" regarding his work in the community.

On Wednesday, April 9's episode of the New Heights with Jason and Travis Kelce podcast, the Kansas City Chiefs tight end, 35, appeared to reference claims that he had purchased a $3.3 million house, with the rumors suggesting he was planning to turn it into a living facility for homeless youth.

The non-profit organization Foster Love reported on the news last month, per Sports Illustrated. However, the post seems to have since been deleted.

Kelce said on the latest episode of his podcast, "Some false claims were thrown out there that I was doing something in the community that I was not. I’m not even going to talk about it specifically." 

"I don’t want to bring anymore attention to that whole nonsense and article and all that stuff. If you ever want to know exactly what I’m doing in the community, just go to 87running.org," he added, referencing his foundation, which he launched in 2015.

"We empower disadvantaged youth to achieve success by providing resources and support to their communities and cultivating their talent in the areas of education, business, athletics, stem, and the arts," a message on the athlete's organization reads.

Kelce continued on Wednesday's podcast, "We’re always trying to get out there and get in the Kansas City communities and the Cleveland community, but this time, I wasn't doing what was falsely claimed by the social channels or the outlets posting all this AI stuff." 

"Just wanted to set the record straight. Appreciate everybody for always trying to show love," Kelce added, thanking the likes of sports analyst Pat McAfee for "always trying to look out for the guys and women in the sports world," without expanding further on what McAfee had said.

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According to EssentiallySports, on his sports talk show — The Pat McAfee Show — on April 3, McAfee, 37, said, “Travis Kelsey Good person, good human donates 3.3 million dollars to a homeless facility. Atta baby, Trav.”

A spokesperson for Foster Love did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment.

Kelce's latest comments come after he got emotional while speaking to the Chiefs Kingdom Show, hosted by Mitch Holthus, in November while discussing his foundation partnering with the Operation Breakthrough education center, which aids kids living in poverty in Kansas City.

"They literally have kids from preschool all the way to 8th grade, and they’re making sure these kids have meals, a safe haven; they get their education, they have good guidance and mentors," he shared.

Recalling his first visit to Operation Breakthrough — located about 15 minutes away from the Chiefs' Arrowhead Stadium by car — Kelce shared, "It was for Dr. Seuss's birthday and I was reading to the kids."

The star said he read The Cat in the Hat during that first visit to the youth center. "And when I tell you that I hadn't read a Dr. Seuss book in forever... I was over there trying to read these things just like these pre-schoolers were," he joked before trying to pronounce some of the iconic children's author's whimsical words and rhymes.

"It was beautiful to see what that organization was doing for those kids," Kelce continued. "And it was a little unsettling at the end when I found out that the program stopped at eighth grade."

The sportsman has since partnered with Operation Breakthrough to open the Ignition Lab in 2021, to provide programming for students beyond middle school.