timeaylor Swift is firmly in the WAG era, ending weeks of speculation about her Super Bowl appearance on Sunday night. She managed to fly from her Tokyo Arena show to Las Vegas to watch her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, play in the Super Bowl.
In typical Swift fashion, the appearance was an elaborate event, reportedly involving two private jets (one on standby, just in case) to ensure she arrived in Sin City in time. When Swift arrived at Allegiant Stadium, she was accompanied by Blake Lively, Ace Spice and Kelce’s sister-in-law Kylie.
A popular and award-winning football player in his own right, Kelce’s PR profile has been boosted like never before by dating one of America’s biggest pop stars. He also made a stylish appearance ahead of the game, wearing a bedazzled custom-made Amri bouclé shirt and matching sparkling trousers combo. Kelce also carried a Louis Vuitton bag. The New York Post estimated the suit cost more than $3,000.
The look certainly matched Swift’s outfit: $695 Area crystal jeans, a cropped bustier and a bomber jacket emblazoned with the Chiefs logo. Lest we forget why she’s here, Swift also wore a custom necklace and a football-shaped clutch with “87” — Kelce’s jersey number — emblazoned on it.
Since Swift and Kelce first went public with their romance at the beginning of the season, some (grouchy) NFL fans have complained about the numerous shots of the singer’s private box. But there were very few clips during the Super Bowl, which may be surprising to fans who wanted to see more. Eras Tour: Part 2 This is not.
Those who only watch the game for Swift will have to turn to social media for a steady stream of content. During Post Malone’s pregame show, Swift and Lively hugged each other and swayed to the music.
Later, Swift greeted pop star Lana Del Rey, leaning in to hug the star from above, the way a princess would greet a peasant. (Lana later joined her in the box.)
Another highlight: Swift drinking beers with longtime friend Nashville stylist Ashley Avignone, which was captured on the stadium’s big screen. Excellent, something When your boyfriend’s team is down 10-3 at halftime, you have to pick yourself up.
Photos of Swift introducing Ice Spice to Kelce’s brother Jason also circulated online, highlighting the possibility of their strange union. While Swift may have gotten all the attention, Ice’s appearance was particularly enjoyable.
Like many viewers who watched everything but the game, she seemed unaware of what was going on and presumably needed Avignon’s full explanation of how football works.
Cameras caught Kelce yelling at Chiefs head coach Andy Reid in what was certainly an uncomfortable moment. But some online commentators curiously went a step further, citing the scene as evidence of player anger issues.
“These photos from Travis Kelce are very disturbing. Are we sure Taylor is safe around this man?” one sports account asked. “If Travis Kelce is so violent when the cameras are on him, what about when Swift is alone with him?” another X (formerly Twitter) user responded.
Kelce’s apparent frustration at this point may not be consistent with his ideal reputation as a golden retriever boyfriend. But calling him an abuser just because he was in front of the referee is still a stretch. The footage provided ammunition for far-right conservatives, who have repeatedly gone after the famous couple for what they see as their liberal leanings.
Kelce advocates for the COVID-19 vaccine and supports the Black Lives Matter movement. While Swift typically remains diplomatic and apolitical, she endorsed Biden in 2020, and many — including an angry Donald Trump — believe another endorsement in 2024 is in the works. Obviously, there’s no way this pair could become pop culture’s hottest crossover couple without sparking some disturbing conspiracy theories.
After a relatively boring game — at least for Swift fans, who were expecting a relatively lethargic performance from Kansas City — things picked up toward the end of the third quarter. As the Chiefs scored a touchdown, took over the scoreboard and took the lead over the San Francisco 49ers, Swift and his teammates were jumping up and down in the private box with glee.
Swift, Spacey, Lively, and Avignon embrace each other in a perfect visual feast for Swift’s brand: manufactured empowerment, a celebration of pop-feminist girl power.
The drama continued into the fourth quarter, when Kansas City tied the 49ers near the end and entered overtime. Although the Chiefs ended up winning the championship, it was a close call from start to finish – as seen in Swift’s box photo, the singer was biting her nails during the closest thing. If the Swift/Kyles pairing is government psyops, as conservatives believe it is, then the CIA certainly knows how to stage good football.
The hours-long extravaganza ended the way many fans hoped for – with winner Swift and Kelce kissing on the court. (We’re not talking about the Viva Las Vegas show.) A real-life romantic comedy plays out on screen.
