Super Bowl LVIII: Taylor Swift’s presence can’t be missed but has casual fans, purists divided

Whether you’re invested in the NFL love story or just want to shake it off, you can’t miss Taylor Swift’s presence at this year's Super Bowl. But, not everyone is happy about it.

(FILES) Travis Kelce #87 of the Kansas City Chiefs (L) celebrates with Taylor Swift after defeating the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Championship Game at M&T Bank Stadium on January 28, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland. You knew Taylor Swift was influential, but Republicans are now crediting the singer with James-Bond-villain-level powers in a wacky conspiracy theory claiming the singer's romance with NFL star Travis Kelce is really a plot to rig the Super Bowl and get President Joe Biden re-elected. The relationship between the pop powerhouse and the Kansas City Chiefs tight end has gripped the nation for weeks, with TV cameras repeatedly panning from the field during the team's surging NFL season to a cheering Swift in the stands. (Photo by Patrick Smith / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP)

Whether you love or loathe her, there’s no getting away from Taylor Swift, even when you’re watching the Super Bowl.

The biggest pop star on the planet, ‘Tay Tay’ has been making regular cameos at American football games this season, cheering on her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.

The television networks can’t get enough of her — showing Swift celebrating in the VIP boxes every time her beau scores a touchdown or makes a great catch.

Travis Kelce and Taylor Swifts celebrate the Chiefs reaching the Super Bowl. Picture: Patrick Smith/Getty Images

Millions of teenage girls who never watch the NFL have been tuning in to just see her, driving the ratings through the roof but infuriating some of the game’s purists, who are blaming the multiple Grammy award winner for taking the spotlight away from the players.

Although her total appearances in each game usually only up to about half a minute of airtime, she’s been attacked on social media, with conspiracy theorists claiming her romance with Kelce is a cover up for her real agenda to stop Donald Trump from winning this year’s Presidential election.

As absurd as it all sounds, the NFL commissioner Roger Goodell was forced to address the allegations in the lead up to Monday’s Super Bowl between the Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers.

Swift cheers the Chiefs on. Picture: David Eulitt/Getty Images

“The idea that this is within a script, this is pre-planned, is just nonsense. It’s frankly not even worth talking about,” he said.

“The Taylor Swift effect is all positive. Travis and Taylor are wonderful young people. They seem very happy. She knows great entertainment and I think that’s why she loves NFL football. It’s great to have her part of it.”

The timing of Taylor’s appearance at the Super Bowl has only added to the hype of her upcoming visit to Australia.

The Midnights star is currently in Tokyo for her Eras Tour so will have to fly to Las Vegas for the Super Bowl before heading to Australia for her seven sold-out concerts — three at the Melbourne Cricket Ground then four at Accor Stadium.

A Chiefs fan asks the question millions are thinking. Picture: Jason Hanna

For the Super Bowl, Sportsbet has even created a dedicated section to bets on Swift — from home many times she will appear on the broadcast, to whether Kelce will propose to her — to what colour lipstick she’ll wear.

If Kelce is thinking of popping the question on international TV, he’s not giving anything away, saying only he needs to pick up his game after Swift won her record fourth album of the year at the Grammy Awards.

“She’s unbelievable. She’s rewriting the history books herself,” Kelce said.

“I told her I’ll have to hold up my end of the bargain and come home with hardware, too,”

Originally published as Super Bowl LVIII: Taylor Swift’s presence can’t be missed but has casual fans, purists divided