FX
Ever since premiering, FX’s American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez has been making headlines and going viral for all the wrong reasons, particularly its comical portrayal of New England Patriots stalwarts such as head coach Bill Belichick, owner Robert Kraft, and tight end Rob Gronkowski.
The Rob Gronkowski character is particularly humorous, as he’s being played by Laith Wallschleger, an actor who has actually been Gronk’s on-set double for a number of years.
What?? 🤯 It turns out the actor portraying @RobGronkowski on FX's "American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez" is Rob's friend and acting double Laith. 😂
Laith got us DYING over his accuracy of Gronk's laugh. 🤣 💀@heykayadams pic.twitter.com/Cf3J0zhaef
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) October 10, 2024
“It was definitely over the top,” Gronk said of Wallschleger’s performance during an interview with Kay Adams. “You want to know a fun fact about that clip? That is my good friend, Laith, who is playing me. I’ve known him for about 14 years… He plays all my doubles in all my other commercials and everything else I do. He was my double in Kick of Destiny, actually… He’s a good friend.”
As it turns out, Gronkowski isn’t the only future Hall of Fame tight end that Wallschleger has portrayed, as he’s set to play a Travis Kelce-inspired character in an upcoming holiday movie on Lifetime titled Christmas in the Spotlight.
Wait a second…Fake Gronk is also gonna play Fake Kelce? I'm calling the police https://t.co/aWmbJUEftn pic.twitter.com/wmKGLMfDlg
— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) October 15, 2024
American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez, which is currently airing on FX and streaming on Disney+/Hulu, stars Josh Andrés Rivera as Hernandez alongside Jaylen Barron, Lindsay Mendez, Ean Castellanos, Tammy Blanchard, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Tony Yazbeck, Jake Cannavale, Norbert Leo Butz, Wallschleger, and more.