Jason Kelce defends NFL showing ‘role model’ Taylor Swift onscreen after claims she ‘ruined football’
Jason Kelce raved about “role model” Taylor Swift amid backlash she’s received for being shown too much on the NFL.ABC
Jason Kelce gushed over Taylor Swift after the pop superstar was scrutinized for getting too much attention at NFL games amid her romance with his brother, Travis Kelce.
“She’s a world star, she’s the quintessential artist right now in the world, singer-songwriter, immensely talented, an unbelievable role model for young women across the globe, the Philadelphia Eagles center, 36, told a local Cincinnati news outlet Friday.
The father of three added, “I think that the NFL would probably be foolish not to show her and be a role model for all the young girls out there.”
Jason pointed out that the NFL would not be showing Swift, 34, on TV so much if people didn’t want to see her.
“The attention is there because the audience wants to see it,” he said.
"The NFL would be foolish not to show (Taylor Swift)."
Jason Kelce was asked about the NFL's attention toward Taylor Swift (his brother's girlfriend) this season.
"(She is) an unbelievable role model for young women across the globe."@WCPO pic.twitter.com/NBhRwuPiGv
— Caleb Noe (@CalebNoeTV) February 3, 2024
“If people didn’t want to see it, they wouldn’t be showing it.”
Swift has reportedly generated $330 million for the NFL and given the sport its highest female viewership in a long time ever since she debuted her relationship with Travis, also 34, at a game in September 2023.
However, that has not stopped critics from calling out the Grammy winner for stealing the spotlight.
Jason pointed out, “The attention is there because the audience wants to see it.”Getty Images
Last October, Kelly Clarkson caught a lot of flack for saying on her talk show that it was “not hilarious” how Swift’s romance was “literally taking over the NFL for people that like watching sports now.”
“It’s like you’re watching ‘Housewives’ while you’re watching,” she quipped at the time.
The “Since U Been Gone” singer, 41, then clarified that she “did not bash anyone” but instead insisted she only wanted to “watch football when [she tunes] in to watch football.”
Swift has been attending many NFL games ever since she started dating Travis Kelce.Getty Images
Travis is a tight end on the Kansas City Chiefs.Getty Images
Jo Koy also joked about how many times Swift appears onscreen during NFL games while hosting the 2024 Golden Globes in January, causing the “Bad Blood” singer — who was present at the awards show — to react with a sour face.
The comedian, 52, then admitted that his joke fell flat after receiving a lot of backlash over it online.
Most recently, a ballsy fan called out Swift in person, shouting at the “Shake It Off” singer as she left the Kansas City Chiefs’ game against the Baltimore Ravens, “You’re ruining football. You ruined football.”
Joy Koy and Kelly Clarkson have been among those to criticize the NFL for the attention they give Swift.AP
Swift did not respond at the time, but plenty of people have had her back since, including her newfound BFF Brittany Mahomes, who is married to Travis’ teammate and best friend, Patrick Mahomes.
The WAG, 28, repost via her Instagram Story Friday a quote from Charles Barkley, in which the CNN talking head, 60, said, “If you’re screaming at Taylor Swift saying she ruined [football], you’re just a loser.”
She then wrote alongside the quote, “Let. Them. Know.”
Many people have come to Swift’s defense after a fan said she “ruined football.”AP
“The View” co-hosts also slammed men who are “pissed” about Swift’s presence at sporting events.
“Why are you so mad?” Whoopi Goldberg asked earlier this week. “There is so, so many things to be angry at in this world. Why are these men toxically masculine?”
Joy Behar also chimed in, “These guys need some therapy. Go get a shrink! I mean, they don’t consider it masculine to be in therapy.
Swift debuted her romance with Travis in September 2023.chariah/Instagram
“It is not about masculine [or] feminine, it is about your brain, and so they need some help, and that’s why I feel sorry for them.”
Travis recently shared that he and Swift have learned to silence the haters to protect their relationship.
“The only thing we’ve talked about is as long as we’re happy, we can’t listen to anything that’s outside noise,” the Chiefs tight end said during a press conference Friday. “That’s all that matters.”
