NFL Under Fire for New Pro-Swiftie Instagram Bio Amid Controversial Calls Helping Chiefs Win: This ‘Fuels Conspiracy Theories’
Frank Franklin II/AP
The NFL community has grown tired of the constant coverage of Taylor Swift, and it’s led some to start throwing around alarming conspiracy theories against the league.
Swift and Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce confirmed rumors that they were seeing one another when Swift attended the team’s Week 3 matchup against the Chicago Bears. What followed was a week of nonstop coverage about the couple before she attended Sunday night’s game against the New York Jets.
If people weren’t already annoyed with the past week, Sunday may have pushed them over the edge. NBC dedicated a surprising amount of its pre-game coverage to Swift; and during the game, the broadcast cut to her more frequently than they would for a team’s owner.
Final stats from tonight’s broadcast, per our count:
Cutaways to Taylor Swift: 17
Commercials for Swift’s new movie: 2
Commercials with Travis Kelce in them: 3
Commercial with Patrick Mahomes in them: 2
Commercials with Andy Reid in them: 1 pic.twitter.com/m0HSBIense— Front Office Sports (@FOS) October 2, 2023
Then, the NFL took it a step further by dedicating its social media accounts to the pop star — much to the NFL community’s chagrin.
At some point this is just a little ridiculous… pic.twitter.com/MeAtursXf2
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) October 2, 2023
The Instagram account was especially noteworthy for some because of Sunday night’s game. The Chiefs’ win against the Jets came with a great deal of controversy due to a pair of plays that cost the Jets the game. When the NFL then celebrated the Chiefs being “2-0 as Swifties,” people were quick to point out how easily that could be misconstrued.
“This is not a good look by the NFL,” New York Post reporter Brian Costello posted on social media. “This sort of thing fuels the conspiracy theories.”
This is not a good look by the nfl. This sort of thing fuels the conspiracy theories. pic.twitter.com/IIoAMoW6FB
— Brian Costello (@BrianCoz) October 2, 2023
Costello wasn’t the only one to make the connection.
Now the official NFL Instagram account says: “Chiefs are 2-0 as Swifties”,
This is just 12 hours after many fans believe the Chiefs received phantom call help by the Refs against the #Jets on SNF.
No matter how you slice it, it’s a bad look.
Might as well just bet KC winning… https://t.co/s1kaDNTq0R pic.twitter.com/hDUfDE04kw
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) October 2, 2023
The @NFL’s main Instagram is promoting the #Chiefs being undefeated since the Swifties started tuning in.
This only ignites the “scripted, rigged” talk; that the NFL wants Kansas City to win to keep the views up. Shame shame shame shame. #NFL pic.twitter.com/1bHJa18h53
— 49ers & NFL News 24/7 (@49ersSportsTalk) October 2, 2023
That Instagram bio is a horrendous look.
Flaunting a record of a team that just won with the help of what many would think are some iffy calls. It’s just a bad look no matter your opinion on the calls.
— Pats Buzz (@PatsBuzz) October 2, 2023
Hours later, the NFL deleted the Instagram bio.
