Taylor Swift’s Late Grammy Entrance Leads Trever Noah to Mock Criticism of Her NFL Airtime: ‘Let Her Live!’

Grammys host Trevor Noah delivered an enthusiastic, starstruck monologue to introduce the 66th Annual Grammy Awards on Sunday night — and Taylor Swift’s fashionably late arrival gave him plenty more fodder.

While Noah marveled over the big names that were in the house — Meryl Streep, Ed Sheeran, opening act Dua Lipa, and 21 Savage, just to name a few — it was the music superstars who were expected to show up that got a big reaction.

But Swift — who was nominated for six Grammys and won two of them, including a history-making fourth win for Album of the Year for “Midnights — became the subject of Noah’s jokes when she made her entrance during Noah’s monologue, leading him to poke some good-natured fun at her recent publicity. As she walked towards her seat, Noah said:

Are you seeing what’s happening right now? As Taylor Swift moves through the room, the local economy around those tables improves. Can you see that? Look at this magic right now. Lionel Richie? Now Lionel Wealthy.

Then he got into her recent appearances at NFL games, where she supports her purported boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, which has become a very curious and weird obsession for conservatives:

I think it is so unfair how NFL fans have been complaining about the cameras cutting to Taylor Swift. Like she’s controlling the cameras at the games. Just let her live! Let her live! Tonight, on Taylor’s behalf, you know what I’m gonna do? I’m gonna give her a break. Every time they mention Taylor Swift, I’m gonna get revenge. Every time someone says “Taylor Swift,” I’m gonna cut the cameras to someone who played football. That’s what I’ll do. Cut!

At that point, the cameras cut to Terry Crews, former NFL player-turned-actor, who seemed surprised to be on camera. And Noah wasn’t done with him:

Bam! Just like that! Oh yeah, you like that Terry Crews? You like that Terry Crews? You better fix your face, Terry! Yeah, we’re watching you all night, Terry. No relaxing for you. Do you work for the CIA, Terry? Huh? I can read lips, Terry, you’d better watch what you say!

Watch the video above via CBS on YouTube.