Pardon me for being cynical here, but celebrities rely heavily on getting press to stay relevant and keeping making $$$. They might complain about paparazzi and not being able to live a ~*nOrMaL lIfE*~ but we all know that most of them go out of their way to be seen and grab headlines. That’s just how it goes. So for KC Chiefs player Travis Kelce (also known as Taylor Swift’s latest love interest) to complain that the NFL going overboard in showing Swift at his games seems a tad disingenuous. After all, this guy hasn’t shut up when it comes to providing soundbites about their pseudo-relationship since the news broke, and Swift has upped the ante now by not just attending the games but bringing other celebs with her. The idea that these two are trying in any way to be low-key is kinda laughable, but let’s go with it.
- Taylor Swift has made her presence very known at Travis Kelce’s NFL games. For instance, her first appearance was late last month when she watched the Chiefs play the Chicago Bears and sat… with Kelce’s mother. Then, this past Sunday, she hit up the match against the Jets and she brought Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds, and Hugh Jackman with her. Can’t a girl just enjoy a private experience in peace?!
- Of course the cameras were going to turn in her direction. This is the same for all celebrities at every public event ever. Whether it’s Beyonce at an NBA game or James Franco at Wimbledon or whatever, celebs draw attention so cameras focus on them now and then to show the audience.
- NFL fans aren’t particularly pleased about it. Longtime football fans want coverage of matches to be about football, not about a lukewarm fauxmance that will be over in a month or two. Fans have been booing advertisements for Swift’s Eras Tour movie and complaining on social media that they’re sick of the spectacle that has nothing to do with the sport.
- Travis Kelce believes the NFL might be “overdoing it a little bit.” On his “New Heights” podcast, Kelce and his brother, Philadelphia Eagles centre Jason Kelce, discussed the coverage Travis’ relationship with Swift has been getting. “I think it’s fun when they show who all is at the game. I think it brings a little bit more to the atmosphere, brings a little bit more to what you’re watching,” Travis said. However, when his brother pointed out that they’re “overdoing it,” Travis couldn’t help but agree. “They’re overdoing it a little bit for sure. Especially my situation,” he claimed. “[But] I think they’re just trying to have fun with it.”
- If anyone’s having fun with it, it’s Travis Kelce. This dude is getting more attention from his connection with Taylor Swift than he ever has for his football career. I don’t necessarily think that’s a great thing — you’d think he’d want to stand out for his own achievements and that he’d feel belittled by simply being written off as “Taylor Swift’s new boyfriend”, but whatever.
- The NFL has issued a statement, insisting they’re just “leaning into” what the people want. “We frequently change our bios and profile imagery based on what’s happening in and around our games, as well as culturally. The Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce news has been a pop cultural moment we’ve leaned into in real time, as it’s an intersection of sport and entertainment, and we’ve seen an incredible amount of positivity around the sport,” the organization told People. “The vast majority of our content has remained focused on the game, our players and variety of other initiatives, including our Toy Story Funday Football alt-cast, the international games and more.”
