Following the news of the Kansas City Chiefs going to the Superbowl, controversy over the attendance of a certain celebrity figure has arisen.
Tight end Travis Kelce’s girlfriend Taylor Swift has appeared at over 10 Chiefs games, but fans and critics alike seem distraught. Should an A-list celebrity like Taylor really be made a spectacle at a sports event?
While many have been delighted with Taylor’s appearances at the games, others have voiced their discontent. Complaints range from the intrusion of celebrity culture on sports to concerns about Swift’s political stances and public dramas. I believe these are all excuses to projected on Swift simply because of her pre-conceived public image.
Considering the fact Taylor is an advocate for diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice, her public persona makes her a prominent figure in pop culture. Some argued that the Super Bowl, traditionally an event of athleticism should be kept free from the influence of celebrity culture. Is this merely another way of saying that women don’t belong in sports? Her presence at the games brings no disruption and whether the cameras focus on her or not should not define whether she should be allowed to attend.
“I’m just there to support Travis,” Taylor Swift told Time Magazine. “I have no awareness of if I’m being shown too much and pissing off a few dads, Brads, and Chads.”
It’s clear that Taylor has no interest in being the main character at these games and she makes an appearance solely to support her boyfriend Kelce.
Additionally, Swift’s relationship with Kelce and her appearances at Chiefs games has generated around $331.5 million in revenue for the Chiefs. This goes to show how Taylor’s multiple appearances on-screen are most likely because the NFL wants to earn more money and will do so by making multiple appearances of Swift.
As rumors of Swift’s Super Bowl attendance spread, social media was quick to answer with a multitude of complaints. Football fans expressed their frustration with her decision and claimed that Swift’s attendance would overshadow the sportsman like aspect the Super Bowl depicts.
Several fans argued that there are events more suitable for Taylor, such as music award shows, or halftime shows at non-sports-related events. They claim that introducing a pop star into a sports event blurs the lines between entertainment and athletics. These reasonings overall seem like excuses for an underlying belief of sexism in the sports industry.
The fact that these men are so upset over the appearance of Swift makes me believe that they choose to dislike her simply because she is a successful woman. If a male celebrity were to be in Taylor’s position, NFL fans would likely have no issue that he came to support the players.
This argument is simply proof of sexism in a male dominated industry. Critics of Taylor Swift attending the Superbowl are only looking for an excuse to validate their discriminative views of women, even if they have little support to back them up.
