The NFL found itself at the center of controversy after its extensive coverage of pop sensation Taylor Swift and Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce sparked backlash, even from Kelce himself, who expressed that the league was going too far in highlighting their rumored romance.
In recent weeks, Taylor Swift has made appearances at two Chiefs games, including their notable 23-20 victory over the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. The game garnered massive viewership, becoming the most-watched Sunday show since the Super Bowl, with an average of 27 million TV viewers, according to NBC Sports.
During the broadcast, ads for Taylor Swift’s upcoming concert film, “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour,” were featured, and the cameras frequently cut to Swift, who passionately cheered on the Chiefs from her luxury box seats. Commentators also made references to her song lyrics. The NFL actively participated in this narrative, particularly on its social media platforms. After the Chiefs’ win against the Jets, the NFL’s Instagram bio humorously read, “chiefs are 2-0 as swifties,” while its bio on X stated, “NFL (Taylor’s Version).”
In response to the controversy, the NFL issued a statement defending its approach, stating, “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 league clarified that despite the attention on Swift and Kelce, the majority of its content remained centered on the game, the players, and various other initiatives, including alternate broadcasts like Toy Story Funday Football, international games, and more.
Travis Kelce shared his perspective on the celebrity coverage during the latest episode of his podcast, “New Heights with Jason and Travis Kelce.” While he acknowledged that it can be fun to show who attended the game, he expressed that the coverage had gone too far, particularly in his case. Kelce mentioned, “They’re overdoing it a little bit, for sure, especially my situation. I think they’re just trying to have fun with it.”
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