The NFL is defending its decision to spotlight Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce in its league converge amid recent backlash from some football fans. In response, the league said in a statement shared with The Hollywood Reporter, "We frequently change our bios and profile imagery based on what's happening in and around our games, as well as culturally. The Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce news has been a pop cultural moment we've leaned into in real time, as it's an intersection of sport and entertainment, and we've seen an incredible amount of positivity around the sport..."
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00:00 The NFL is defending its Decision 2 spotlight Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce in its league
00:04 coverage amid recent backlash from some football fans.
00:09 The pop star was the talk of the town for the past two weekends when she showed up at
00:13 the last two Kansas City Chiefs games to support Travis Kelce, fueling romance rumors between
00:18 the two.
00:19 Her appearances caused a social media frenzy, something the NFL took note of.
00:24 During the Chiefs-Jets game at MetLife Stadium, the NFL played into the extra attention the
00:28 singer has brought to the league by spotlighting Swift, a commercial spot featuring her 1989
00:33 track "Welcome to New York," and frequently having the cameras pan over to the star in
00:37 her suite alongside her A-list friends including Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Hugh Jackman
00:43 and Sophie Turner.
00:44 The NFL also changed its bio on their official social accounts, at one point writing "NFL
00:49 Taylor's version" in its bio on X.
00:51 Some football fans were upset about the whole ordeal, saying the NFL appeared to be focused
00:56 on celebrity and celebrating one team's victory.
00:59 In response, the league said in a statement shared with The Hollywood Reporter, "We frequently
01:03 change our bios and profile imagery based on what's happening in and around our games,
01:08 as well as culturally.
01:09 The Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce news has been a pop-cultural moment we've leaned to
01:13 in real time, as it's an intersection of sport and entertainment and we've seen an incredible
01:18 amount of positivity around the sport."
01:21 The statement also comes after Kelce said on a new episode of his New Heights podcast
01:25 that he thinks the coverage of Swift at his games is overdoing it, knowing, "I think it's
01:29 fun when they show who all is at the game.
01:31 I think it brings a little bit more to the atmosphere.
01:33 But…
01:34 "But at the same time I think they're overdoing it.
01:37 They're overdoing it a little bit, for sure, especially my situation."
01:40 For more on this story, head to THR.com.
01:43 And for the latest entertainment news and updates, keep watching The Hollywood Reporter
01:47 News.
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