by VICTORIA GEORGE
Taylor Swift fans and NFL fans worldwide have been intently following the blossoming romance between singer-songwriter Taylor Swift and Kansas City Chiefs football star Travis Kelce.
Kelce, 34, considered one of the best tight ends in NFL history, has already celebrated two Super Bowl victories. He recently called it quits with his ex-girlfriend, social media influencer Kayla Nicole, whom he dated for five years.
Swift also broke up with her longtime boyfriend, Joe Alywn, after six years, shocking fans.
Alywn, a British actor who has contributed to her writings on her albums Folklore and Evermore, tried to keep their relationship uber-private. The pair seemed inseparable to the public eye.
In a 2019 interview with The Guardian, Swift, who turns 34 on Dec. 13, steered clear of discussing her relationship, saying, “People think it’s up for discussion, and our relationship isn’t up for discussion.”
In Swift’s 2020 song Peace, she discusses the inevitable discomfort those in her life are subjected to by her ever-growing stardom, a pain that she has little control over.
In the 2020 documentary Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions, Swift emphasizes the importance of focusing on what she can control to avoid being viewed as the “elephant in the room” … but often wonders if it’s enough.
Fans frequently criticized Alwyn for his commitment to avoid dicussing their relationship and professional partnership. In the few clips that paparazzi have of the pair, he’s walking in front of her, rushing her away from cameras and dodging her to the car.
Kelce attended Swift’s iconic Eras Tour concert in Kansas City in early July. On his podcast, “New Heights,” with his brother Jason, an offensive lineman for the Philadephia Eagles, Travis expressed how he hoped to meet the pop star someday.
In an attempt to contact Swift, Kelce gave her a friendship bracelet with his phone number. Rumors began to spread of a potential romance.
The news was confirmed as Swift began attending his football games, decked out in Kansas City gear. Kelce won the approval of Swift’s fan base by keeping their relationship private … but not secret.
When questioned about their romance during a Chiefs press conference, Kelce said, “As all the attention comes, it feels like, you know, I was on top of the world after the Super Bowl, and right now I’m even more on top of the world. So it’s fun, man.”
Most noticeably, when asked how he was handling the sudden attention, Kelce said, “It comes with it; you have a lot of people who care about Taylor, for good reason, so you just have to keep living and learning and enjoying the moments. At the end of the day, I’ve always been really good at compartmentalizing.”
Since the two have gone public, they’ve been spotted at dinners, at Saturday Night Live and throughout New York City.
Swift’s influence today is arguably greater than any other entertainer in the public eye. Her impact has carried into the NFL in numerous ways. Sales of luxury box seats have skyrocketed since Swift began attending Chiefs home games.
Travis Kelce jersey sales have increased by 400%, and Kelce has also gained 1.1 million new followers on Instagram.
The influence of Taylor Swift internationally has become a spectacle for the last decade, especially during the past year, as her Eras tour performances has sold out stadium after stadium in city after city.
Sports, especially football, influence American culture heavily. Though the two worlds may have separate audiences and fan bases, this particular union has brought even more attention to both.
Whether Taylor and Travis reach the goal line or not, the singer-songwriter’s swift impact on the NFL reflects her otherworldly influence as a towering pop-culture figure today.
The Mainsheet 