Last Sunday, Sept. 24, the Kansas City Chiefs played the Chicago Bears at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, MO. What started as a regularly scheduled football game became a media sensation because none other than Taylor Swift was in attendance, watching from Travis Kelce’s box.
The rumors about a budding romance between Swift and Kelce began after Kelce said on his and his brother Jason Kelce’s “New Heights” podcast that he had gone to Swift’s Eras Tour in Kansas City and tried to give her a friendship bracelet with his phone number on it. Ultimately, Kelce didn’t get the bracelet to her, but his interest had fans anxiously awaiting Swift’s response. To further broadcast his crush on the pop star, he said on the Pat McAfee Show, “I told her, ‘I’ve seen you rock the stage in Arrowhead. You might have to come see me rock the stage in Arrowhead.’”
Swift’s response came in the form of her sitting right next to his mother, Donna Kelce,
in his personal viewing box at the Chiefs game. Decked out in Chiefs red, white and gold, she raucously cheered on Kelce for the entirety of the game. Then, much to fans’ delight, Taylor left the game in Travis’ convertible, unencumbered by security (something Swift takes very seriously).
On the most recent episode of the Kelce brothers’ podcast, Travis said, “Shoutout to Taylor for pulling up!… I just thought it was awesome how everybody in the suite had nothing but great things to say about her, the friends and family — she looked amazing. Everybody was talking about her in great light, and on top of that, the day went perfect for Chiefs fans, of course.” Videos circulated quickly of Taylor’s movements during the game, which Travis made sure to comment on. “To see the slow-motion chest bumps, to see the high-fives with Mom, to see how Chiefs Kingdom was all excited that she was there. It was definitely a game I’ll remember, that’s for damn sure. Then we just slid off in the getaway car at the end.” The tight end’s excitement about Swift being at his game made fans fall even more in love with the idea of the two celebrities’ budding love affair.
This romance’s infinite amount of media attention makes it even more notable. Not only did countless photos of Swift circulate on every social media site imaginable, but accounts such as The History Channel and The Empire State Building posted TikToks referencing “Traylor,” as fans have taken to calling the couple. The History Channel dubbed Taylor’s new relationship “the second American Revolution,” as she hasn’t dated an American since 2012. Even Bill Belichick, infamous head coach of the New England Patriots, commented on the pair, saying, “Travis Kelce’s had a lot of big catches in his career — this would be the biggest” on a radio show. Overall, the public loves seeing Swift with Kelce, and the media seemingly cannot get enough of them.
But why is the media so interested in them? What is making the whole country fixate on this celebrity relationship? Yes, Taylor Swift is the world’s biggest pop star, and Travis Kelce is the NFL’s current best tight end, but their relationship shouldn’t be more than a fleeting headline. Tracy Gleason, a psychology professor and department chair at Wellesley College, told USA Today that she “sees the Taylor-and-Travis phenomenon as arising from a combination of our social interest in other humans, Taylor’s ‘incredibly appealing persona’ and our feeling of access and connection with her.” Swift, as a seemingly incredible person, deserves a fairytale relationship like the ones she’s written. Fans see Kelce as the light at the end of the tunnel for Swift, the one who could give her a real-life rom-com.
Furthermore, people want a fairytale. They see Swift and Kelce as a reprieve from all the bad news shown in the media. Many call them a “rom-com couple,” and who doesn’t enjoy a good romantic comedy? A relationship between a pop star and an NFL player, coupled with the never-ending fanbase of both celebrities, makes it a no-brainer that no one can stop talking about them. And though skeptics have pointed out that it could be a PR stunt, Swifties and NFL fans alike have decided to support the fairytale.
The world can’t wait to see what happens next between Swift and Kelce. Looks like Swift is officially in her Football Era.
