The NFL has recently faced criticism for its coverage of pop superstar Taylor Swift and Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. Fans and even Kelce himself have expressed their disapproval, stating that the league is “overdoing it” with its attention towards the rumored romance between Swift and Kelce.
Swift has been in attendance at the Chiefs’ past two games, including their 23-20 win over the New York Jets. The game was highly watched, with an average of 27 million TV viewers, making it the most watched Sunday show since the Super Bowl, according to NBC Sports. Throughout the broadcast, ads for Swift’s forthcoming concert film “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” were shown, and Swift was frequently seen cheering on the Chiefs from her luxury box seats. Commentators even made references to her song lyrics.
The NFL has not shied away from acknowledging Swift’s presence and the rumors surrounding her and Kelce. The league has played along with the narrative, particularly on its social media accounts. After the Chiefs’ win over the Jets, the NFL’s Instagram bio read, “chiefs are 2-0 as swifties,” while its bio on X read, “NFL (Taylor’s Version).” In a statement, the NFL explained that they frequently change their bios and profile imagery based on what’s happening in and around the games, as well as culturally. They believe that the Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce news has generated a lot of positivity and showcases the intersection between sport and entertainment.
However, the NFL made sure to mention that the majority of their content remains focused on the game, the players, and other initiatives such as the Toy Story Funday Football alt-cast and international games.
Travis Kelce himself addressed the NFL’s coverage on the latest episode of his podcast “New Heights with Jason and Travis Kelce.” He expressed his view that the league should “calm down” when it comes to their celebrity coverage. Kelce did mention that it can be fun when the league shows who was at the game as it adds to the atmosphere and enhances the viewing experience. However, he also agreed with his brother’s statement that the NFL is “overdoing it” with regards to their coverage of his situation and his relationship with Taylor Swift.
While the NFL defends its coverage of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, acknowledging the cultural significance of their rumored romance, fans and even Kelce himself have criticized the league for going overboard. It remains to be seen how the NFL will respond to the backlash and whether they will make any changes in their approach to covering celebrities at games. In the meantime, the focus should still primarily be on the game, the players, and the sport itself.
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