Former Arizona Cardinals star J.J. Watt addresses Taylor Swift-Travis Kelce NFL uproar
It seems like everyone has an opinion on Taylor Swift and the NFL.
Even former Arizona Cardinals and NFL star J.J. Watt.
Watt, who has never been afraid to speak his mind, sounded off on the "uproar" over Swift supporting her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, in recent comments to Us Weekly.
“I think it should be nothing but celebrated,” Watt told Us Weekly. “I think that it’s not her fault they put the camera on her, just it is what it is.”
Watt, who retired after last season, pointed out the double standard with male celebrities at games, and the lack of complaining people do about them.
“I think it’s great. I can’t understand why people are so upset about it. I mean, they show celebrities at games all the time. Don’t act like we don’t show male celebrities at games all the time. I don’t really understand why it’s caused such an uproar.”
He continued: “I mean, she’s literally there supporting her significant other, and that’s what you should do as a significant other,” Watt continues. “So I think that it’s great.”
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Colin Cowherd slams Taylor Swift NFL haters
Watt isn't the only person to sound off on the double standard about Swift at NFL games.
FOX Sports' Colin Cowherd blasted those upset with her presence at NFL games, when they never seemed to have an issue with Spike Lee, Matthew McConaughey, Jack Nicholson or other male super fans at sporting events previously.
“There’s a lot of really weird, lonely, insecure men out there,” Cowherd said. “The fact that a pop star — the world’s biggest pop star — is dating a star tight end who had one of his greatest games ever, and the network puts them on the air briefly, then it bothers you, what does that say about your life?”
He continued: “Drake is on everything; Spike Lee, Knicks games, Eminem, Michigan sporting events. We celebrate it. Eighties, ’90s, Jack Nicholson Lakers games? It’s cool. But a talented and beautiful woman is on the air — one who would never pay attention to lonely men — and it bothers them.”
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.@ColinCowherd has no problem with Taylor Swift's presence for the NFL pic.twitter.com/mPvOzEgQtK
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) January 30, 2024
Taylor Swift's NFL air time is probably less than you think
With all of the talk about Taylor Swift and the NFL, you would think that she is taking away from NFL broadcasts, right?
The New York Times interestingly analyzed Swift's screen time at the NFL games she attends.
It found out that "she is typically onscreen for less than 25 seconds over the course of broadcasts that run longer than three hours."
Watt pointed out to Us Weekly that Swift has "brought in a massive amount of new fans" to the NFL and "all sorts of eyeballs and interest."
How is that a bad thing?
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Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Taylor Swift NFL uproar: J.J. Watt on Travis Kelce's girlfriend support
