The Taylor Swift super bowl conspiracy: love story or culture war?
Taylor Swift at the 2023 MTV Music Awards // Photo Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons
On September 24th 2023, a new power couple burst into the limelight as Taylor Swift was seen cheering on NFL star Travis Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs in their game against the Chicago Bears, confirming rumours that the pair were dating.
Both megastars in their respective worlds of music and sport, their relationship has led to an unusual crossover of stereotypically different audiences. Swift’s presence at Kelce’s games has taken NFL viewership to new heights, with the Chiefs’ recent victory against the Buffalo Bills attracting 50.4 million viewers - the highest number ever for a divisional playoff game. The Chiefs have now reached the Super Bowl championship game where they will take on the San Francisco 49ers in what is expected to be one of the most watched television broadcasts in the USA of all time.
Yet an alt-right conspiracy theory centring on Swift and Kelce has distracted preparations for Sunday’s Super Bowl. According to several Republican media personalities, this NFL season has been rigged to send the Chiefs to the Super Bowl, thus creating a platform for Swift to endorse Joe Biden and swing the results of the upcoming presidential election. Laura Loomer, a self described Islamophobe, has suggested that Democrat officials are propping up Kelce and Swift to create a “poster child for their pro-abortion GOTV (getting out the vote) campaign.” These commentators assume that the couple’s romance has been faked from the beginning, and that Taylor Swift and the entire NFL are under the control of the Pentagon.
This rhetoric, whilst absurd, offers an insightful reflection into America’s cultural and political landscape in 2024. It is telling that when a woman successfully makes a mark in such a traditionally male dominated sport, the far-right assumes that it must be because of a wider conspiracy, not her own talent and status as a beloved figure around the world. The misogyny of many NFL fans is a serious problem which the sport has to confront, whilst several current players and coaches continue to play despite sexual assault charges. Most prominently, Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson who was accused of assaulting 24 different women returned to the field this year after facing merely an 11 game suspension.
Why has ‘Traylor’ so bizarrely struck a political nerve? Their relationship might easily fulfil the ideal conservative love story - the pretty Christian blonde falls for the macho football star - yet Swift and Kelce’s liberal views undermine the superficiality of such a vision. Swift has repeatedly expressed support for pro-choice and pro-LGBTQ+ causes, and Kelce has appeared in television adverts for the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine - a lightning rod of right wing anti-intellectual frenzy in recent years.
It is clear to see why fears of Swift endorsing Biden are so prevalent amongst Republicans. She has already shown a staggering ability to drive voter registration, as one Instagram post last November led to 13,000 people registering to vote in 30 minutes. Swift endorsed Biden in 2020, and since then, her fame and influence has only increased. Her ongoing Eras world tour in December 2023 became the highest grossing music tour of all time, and she made history as Time Magazine’s Person of the Year for 2023. It is hard to think of any other celebrity who currently has more potential to increase overall turnout.
Should Swift have a crucial role in spreading awareness about political issues to people who would otherwise be apathetic, or is it a poor reflection on society that some people depend on celebrities for their political education? Regardless of the answer to this question, Swift’s voice and platform is far larger than the average Washington D.C. politician, so it seems inevitable that her influence will remain a heated talking point in the months to come. However, what the conspiracy theorists fail to understand is that an endorsement from Swift would only be meaningful if it came from her in her own terms, without being subject to any political strategizing - her fans love her for her own independence and authenticity.
It is worth pointing out that the people who have responded bitterly to Swift and Kelce’s relationship are merely an outspoken minority. For most people, the crossover of two celebrities with very different fan bases is a heartwarming story, and the confluence of these two audiences has the potential to break down stereotypical gender divides about who can enjoy American football or Taylor Swift’s music.
The bizarre conspiracy about Swift and her relationship to Kelce and the NFL is ultimately only one of many fronts in the intense culture war building up to November’s election. Swift is caught in the crossfire between Democrats who are determined to secure her endorsement, and a corresponding torrent of hate from Republicans who seek to diminish her influence. The far right commentators can only hope that their conspiracy will undermine Swift’s reputation.