Travis Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs lost their first game of the NFL regular season against the Los Angeles Chargers in São Paulo, Brazil, but Swifties are calling foul after one unplanned play on the field Friday night.
Kelce, 35, was smacked in the helmet by Chargers player Teair Tart, 28.
The tight end threw his hands in the air after the incident, but referees only punished the team with a 15-yard penalty, and allowed Tart to remain in the game.
Tart later doubled down on the move, sharing video of a skit from Dave Chappelle’s now defunct TV show, in which he was dressed like singer Rick James and said, ‘What did the five fingers say to the face? Slap!’
Swift, 35, was not at the game, but Swifties who were watching the play on YouTube were furious and let their anger be known.
‘My son who looked up to you. What a (poop emoji) example you set,’ wrote one angered follower.
Travis Kelce, 35, was smacked in the helmet by LA Chargers player Teair Tart, 28, during the teams’ first regular game of the NFL season in Brazil on Friday night
One person used a gif of Swift singing her song Mean, using the lyrics ‘why you gotta be so mean.’
‘Anything to be relevant I guess,’ wrote a Swiftie, adding, ‘Enjoy your 5 seconds of fame.’
Another used a gif from the Swift’s Karma video, sharing the lyrics ‘Karma’s a relaxing thought.’
‘I’m here to virtually slap this man with my fellow Swifties,’ stated one incensed onlooker.
However, much of the backlash seemed to be against Swift and her legion of fans.
‘Thank you for upsetting the Swifties, ‘ wrote one fan in praise of Tart’s actions.
‘YOU AMERICA’S FAVORITE,’ stated one follower, adding ‘F the swifts.’
‘You’re my hero,’ claimed another.
Tart was allowed to stay in the game, but the Chargers received a 15 yard penalty. The targeting of Kelce cause great ire among Swift’s fans, who made their feelings know on his social media accounts
Much of the backlash seemed to be against Swift and her legion of fans; Pictured in Los Angeles in February
The NFL’s audience has grown considerably among women after Swift and Kelce began dating in 2023 and women make up 47-percent of its viewing audience; Pictured in Kansas City, MO in September 2023
‘We love Taylor. She’s a huge icon among that audience,’ Marissa Solis, the senior vice president of global brand and consumer marketing at the NFL told USA Today in February; Pictured in Kansas City, MO in December 2023
Neither Kelce nor Swift has commented publicly on the incident which was seen by millions around the world.
The NFL’s audience has grown considerably among women after Swift and Kelce began dating in 2023 and women make up 47-percent of its viewing audience.
I think the Taylor effect, as many people call it, obviously boosted our audience,’ Marissa Solis, the senior vice president of global brand and consumer marketing at the NFL told USA Today in February.
‘We love Taylor. She’s a huge icon among that audience. But we were already growing with that audience before that. I think she just helped us and came at the right time.’
