Vitriol-American Sweethearts
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are smitten, and that’s a problem for some
“Sometimes I feel like everybody is a sexy baby
And I’m a monster on the hill
Too big to hang out
Slowly lurching toward your favorite city
Pierced through the heart but never killed”-Antihero by Taylor Swift
It is possible in today’s world to get by without knowing who Taylor Swift or Travis Kelce are, but it’s not easy.
Travis Kelce, a two-time Super Bowl-winning tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs, and Taylor Swift, international music artist are dating. Swift has been present at many of Kelce’s games as the Chiefs have made their march to this year’s Super Bowl against the San Fransisco 49ers. Her appearance at the games has been the subject of much media coverage, to the ire of many football fans who want the purpose of sports commentary to be about sports. But, her star power has significantly padded NFL pocketbooks, with an estimated revenue addition north of $300 million based on data measured by Apex Marketing Group, part of that total being roughly $160 million to the Chiefs franchise alone.
Taylor Swift, public enemy #1?
Swift is the biggest pop culture figure in the world, and understandably so, she’s talented, charming, and relatable. Many of her song lyrics deal in a vulnerable and semi-autobiographical way with love gained and lost. It turns out fame and fortune can make finding romance in the modern world difficult. Now, she has entered into a relationship with a high-profile athlete and this fact has become the source of tireless media speculation. The continuous reporting has exhausted many workaday people who simply want to enjoy their football in peace.
The truth is, folks, this is the bed we have made. Whatever your opinion on famous people and the tabloid news they generate, their status matters to many of us. Entertainment celebrities are a stand-in for royalty, a type of ephemeral and artificial aristocracy in the U.S. We give their social and political views more weight(than we ought to) and we tend to hold their success as part of some magical formula unavailable to us. This, coupled with the 24/7 news cycle means mainstream outlets will squeeze as much life out of every bit of celebrity minutiae because somewhere on this planet of 8 billion people, someone has to know Taylor’s lip color.
When Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce become the subject of too much press, the overexposure leads to backlash. Which it has, a scan of social media will lead to many suggesting neither Kelce nor Swift is that good, and people saying she’s ugly, boring, a mediocre musician, etc… On some level this all comes with the territory, being in front of that many people, you’re bound to be met with disapproval by some. But, does the amount of invective match the situation? I would say, no.
Yes, you are allowed to dislike Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce or to be completely oblivious to them. It’s okay to roll your eyes at the incessant coverage, but if it makes you angry, you might need to check your heart.
Superstition, Love, and Sports
These two young lovebirds are smitten with each other. Frankly, superstitious Chiefs fans should be thanking her(the NFL should send her a dividend check), her presence at the games has not put any kind of sex hex on Kelce’s performance. What I mean is, that there’s a common and misguided belief by some sports fans that a top male athlete’s dating life negatively affects his playing when his love interest is in the stands. There isn’t much substance to this idea, but it is out there, and in the case of Kelce/Swift, her attendance has been the opposite of negative for him. Thus, when you rinse off the media saturation and examine this relationship plainly, what you have is two hardworking people at the top of their respective fields who like each other. That’s it. Young, attractive, nice people supporting one another and enjoying each other's company.
Romance Gained
The news of famous people dating is trivial, most trade partners like I change underwear. Yet, in this case, many common folks are letting it stress them out. Why?
We all know that the average American experiences a daily information barrage that shakes their belief in the security and goodness of the world. Many people are very stressed about kitchen table issues like the cost of living, the job market, community safety, international peace, etc… And they should be, but not at the expense of allowing for some fun and frivolity. That should include a sweet, innocent courtship, like the kind Kelce and Swift have. Two powerhouse celebrities falling in love with each other should generate good feelings for America, something we can all agree is awesome.
But, the cancer of cynicism seems metastatic, and something nice happening to a celebrity couple can’t go on without internet misanthropes trying to darken love’s light. Romance is of declining importance for many in the dating world. Perhaps, because the virtues of engaging in demure coquettishness, slow seduction, and wooing have never been instilled in most people. They don’t know what they don’t know about the beauty of taking your time to fall in love. If you want to glimpse it, read the replete amount of discourse online discussing the minefield of courtship and sexual intimacy today. I don’t envy the situation.
The conclusion is this, ignore them if you like, dismiss them, if you like, but, maybe just try a little to see the big picture here and not HATE them. These two people are massively influential, whether you like it or not, and their example might instill a positive view of love and dating. Maybe it won’t, in which case we’ll get another banging break-up album from Swift, and pro football will go back to normal. For me, I want America as a whole to have a simple sweet moment of non-important fun in the news cycle, for wholesome romance to be displayed in a good light, and for two successful people, strangers to me, to capture a love they deserve. Go Chiefs!
