An analysis of the impact Taylor Swift provides for the NFL media and an answer to the claim of her “ruining the league.”
Following her first appearance at a Kansas City Chiefs game in September of 2023, Taylor Swift became the most Googled person instantly. Swift has made herself a sight to see at every Chiefs game where she sits in support of her boyfriend, Kansas City tight end and nine-time Pro Bowler, Travis Kelce.
The presence of the international pop star at games has sparked debates between NFL fans and “Swifties” regarding social media bias and even the officiating within the games themselves.
One of the first instances of bias within the NFL’s social media was the choice to include “Chiefs are now 2-0 as Swifties” in their Instagram bio back in October.
With a large amount of following and viewership from her fans Swift brings with her, the NFL is inclined to use this to their advantage by constantly sharing posts about her being in attendance.
While the media attention might be fun for Swifties, NFL fans have had mixed opinions. They were especially fuming due to the ending of a “Sunday Night Football” between the Kansas City Chiefs and New York Jets. A controversial holding call on the Jets was called, ultimately costing them the game.
The holding call not only sparked controversy but also theories and observations regarding the decision to refuse to let the Chiefs lose with Taylor in attendance due to the bizarre reputations her fans have established.
This led to the claim of her “ruining football” stated by Ravens fans on Sunday ahead of the AFC Championship game.
The opinion reflects NFL fans’ opinions on Swift “constantly” being shown on television, which brings them to think the broadcasts are slowly steering away from the actual game. The marketing tactic to appeal to Swifties rather than football fans has been as oblivious as ever with NFL fans taking their frustration on Swift herself.
Swift responded to the negative comment saying “I didn’t do anything”.
Despite her worldwide popularity, she’s entitled to attending public events that any other individual can partake in as well as supporting her favorite team.
Her intentions aren’t to confiscate viewers with her appearance but rather to enjoy the game just as any other fan would.
Taylor’s genuine response to being shown time and time again during games was, “There’s a camera, like, a half-mile away, and you don’t know where it is, and you have no idea when the camera is putting you in the broadcast, so I don’t know if I’m being shown 17 times or once.”
Frequent televised occurrences regarding Taylor Swift are completely on the NFL’s behalf as Swift remains neutral and nonchalant regarding negative comments about her “ruining the sport.”
The advancement of the Kansas City Chiefs to their second consecutive Super Bowl appearance, Swift’s appearance will provide the NFL’s media with multiple media opportunities.
Regardless of the Chiefs’ success, the NFL would have made numerous allusions to the musical artist. Plus, with the Super Bowl being more of a celebrity get-together in recent years anyway, who’s to say Swift wouldn’t have been in attendance regardless? Most likely, the NFL would feel more intrigued to capture footage of her throughout the game as they would any other celebrity.
The reputation of the NFL is beginning to steer away from what its sole purpose is and transitioning into a league that incorporates non-football-related content in its games and media. With pleasure and praises from Swifies who serve as potential short-term fans, the fans with a long-term and general interest in the sport get more frustrated as these antics from the NFL will likely continue.
Ultimately, Swift does not cause a distraction within the NFL media as all she has done is watch games, celebrate and cheer on her partner as a normal fan and supportive girlfriend would. Rather it’s the NFL facing backlash from their decisions as such success from a power couple cannot co-exist without controversy.