Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024 — Some commentators have taken an aggressive interest in Taylor Swift’s motivations for being around the NFL. Her fans remain unswayed.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Madison Malone Kircher is a New York Times reporter covering internet culture.
Taylor Swift often encourages her fans to devise fanciful theories about her music, but this week, a very different type of wild speculation sprung up around her: political conspiracy theories being peddled by Fox News, Donald Trump surrogates and the extended Make America Great Again universe.
The theories range widely but include outlandish claims that Swift is secretly working for the U.S. government and that her relationship with Travis Kelce, a tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs, is part of a lengthy political scheme. In this theory, her dalliance with Kelce and the NFL ends with the Chiefs winning the Super Bowl and Swift announcing her support for President Joe Biden in the forthcoming election.
The attacks may be intended to embolden a right-wing base and perhaps change a few minds in other parts of the political universe, but Swifties, predictably, remain indifferent. Several said the attacks have only motivated them to be more politically engaged.
“When I see an uptick in hate toward her or, like, conservative men saying she needs to stay in her place, it makes me go ‘Wait a minute; you can’t box a woman in,’” said Raven Mosley, 31, a mental health professional and Swift fan from Vancouver, Washington.
“It makes me want to be like, ‘Hey, let’s pay attention to what’s going on out here!’” Mosley added. “They’re getting mad.
