MANCHESTER, New Hampshire —
Retired Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski released a statement Tuesday regarding his appearances at New Hampshire polling places, saying he was not affiliated with a conservative advocacy group that brought celebrities to the polls.
Gronkowski was one of several celebrities spotted by New Hampshire voters at the polls Tuesday.
News 9 confirmed that conservative political advocacy group Turning Point Action brought celebrities to New Hampshire as part of a get-out-the-vote effort. Many Granite Staters said they received text messages before Election Day teasing celebrity visits.
A News 9 viewer shared a photo of Gronkowski in front of Bedford High School posing for photos with viewers.
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In a social media post, Gronkowski said it was “upsetting and eye-opening to see the stories” around his visit to New Hampshire.
“Regarding the images and videos circulating, we are neither endorsed nor affiliated with Turning Point USA,” Gronkowski said in the post. “After stopping at Goffstown High School, we walked across the street to greet excited fans and shout our names before heading off to the next location. We just took a few pictures and I signed some things for them before we left.”
Turning Point USA is a non-profit organization, while Turning Point Action is its political arm, which may engage in political activities.
“We took photos with people from across the political spectrum throughout the morning,” Gronkowski said in his statement. “We can’t control what the media has made of it and what they are doing – so we are here to stop the false narratives.”
The future Patriots Hall of Famer was asked about it during a press conference Thursday afternoon.
“I’m just here to talk about the Patriots Hall of Fame,” Gronkowski said. “And I just went to New Hampshire to encourage people to vote.”
Besides Gronkowski, other notable celebrities at the polls included former Patriots catcher Danny Amendola, boxers Floyd Mayweather and Mike Tyson, and former Red Sox all-star Kevin Youkilis.
News 9 reached out to Turning Point Action Tuesday but did not receive a response. News 9 also reached out to Gronkowski’s representatives for comment, but did not receive a response.
On its website, Turning Point Action noted that New Hampshire was a focal point of the organization’s efforts “Commit to chasing 100 ballots” initiative, an effort to encourage low-propensity voters to vote.
Read Gronkowski’s full statement:
“It has been overwhelming and eye-opening to see the stories surrounding my visit to NH on Election Day with Camille.
“Regarding the images and videos circulating, we are neither endorsed nor affiliated with Turning Point USA.
“After stopping at Goffstown High School, we walked across the street to greet excited fans and shout our names before heading off to the next location. We just took a few pictures and I signed some things for them before leaving.
“We’ve taken photos with people from across the political spectrum throughout this morning. We can’t control what the media has made of it and what they’re doing – so we’re here to stop the false narratives.
“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 I hope you all do the same.”
Gn sports
