[OpEd] Miss Americana and The Heartbreak Prince (Travis’ Version)

I began the season as a Kansas City Chiefs fan and ended the season rooting for the Philadelphia Eagles at Super Bowl LIX. As a Swiftie, I was looking forward to “Go Taylor Swift’s Boyfriend’  sportsball get togethers as an excuse to bake and create Taylor Swift thematic party snacks (not sure if Bad Blood Dinuguan would have been a party favorite, but maybe Pigs in a Blank Space or Lavender Haze Milk Tea might have gone well) with fellow Swifties rooting for Team Taylor Swift’s Boyfriend. I even thought about getting a Kansas City Swifties sweater to show that I have finally entered the wide world of sportsball by way of being a Swiftie. I’ve hosted Super Bowl parties at my place; mostly because I love the vibes and the commercials were entertaining…and it was even more entertaining seeing my straight hetero dude friends lose their mind. After all, it’s simply the biggest game of the year. 

The parasocial relationship with Swifties with Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce has been interesting to observe. I was in the camp of, “If she’s happy, then I’m happy.” After going through divorce after a 15 year relationship, I lived vicariously through seeing their coupledom. She’s sophisticated and a genius writer, and he’s just Travis, the golden retriever boyfriend. 

For us Swifties, we swear by the documentary, “Miss Americana.” This was the documentary that had Taylor Swift make her declaration to be on the side of progress after honestly critiquing Marsha Blackburn’s political run. She calls Marsha Blackburn “Trump in a wig.” Her Eras tour opener, “Miss Americana and the Heartbreak Prince” is a tale of being surrounded with people on the right, but knows it’s a no-win situation when no one is going to stand up for you. Even in this documentary, she writes a song called “Only the Young” calling young voters to stand up for what they believe in.

I was cool with Travis. I have preference to his older, dorkier, brother Jason, who will go on a friendship bracelet frenzy at the Eras Tour. I was even fine when Travis, Patrick, and Reid gave canned responses in regards to Harry Butt’s anti-woman comments because they seemed so scripted and it felt they were under pressure during draft season to play it cool. 

However…

 

…when I heard Travis’ Super Bowl LIX press conference comments when asked about the angry orange, Donald Trump, being at the Superdome…let’s look at the full quote here before someone quotesplains me: 

“It’s a great honor, no matter who the president is. I know I’m excited because it’s the biggest game of my life, you know?” 

 

In contrast, Eagles QB, Jalen Hurt gave the media a “No ma’am” when pressed with a similar question. 

 

As of this writing, protests are still on the streets nationwide in response to the ICE raids. Immigrant and family owned local businesses have dropped in attendance and profit. Transgender folks are being erased on government websites and policies. Diversity and inclusion policies on the chopping block. The Department of Education is under threat. Many progressives are of the belief that Trump is no president, he is a dictator.  

This is the same Donald Trump who has whined in all caps on his social media, “I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT” in response to Taylor endorsing Kamala Harris. Many Swifties have referenced Travis Kelce as America’s boyfriend. Many of us Swifties have been invested in this relationship because for the first time, we’re seeing Taylor happy in a relationship. “So High School” and “The Alchemy” sings about this joy being with Travis, the golden retriever boyfriend. Many of us have also pointed to our Taylor Tots…our daughters, nieces, and girls who love Taylor Swift that Travis and Taylor are goals because they support one another at games and at concerts. This is how impactful Travis is in the Swifitie community.

But is it really an honor to play for a president that has dissed your girlfriend? Seeing her friends get their rights stripped away? As someone who has had a past life in public relations, it’s within Travis’ right to say, “No comment” or a simple, “I’m just here to play a good game!” 

 

Former punter of the Minnesota Vikings, Chris Kluwe, said it best, “Dude, you’ve already made millions AND you’re romantically connected to one of the most powerful women in the nation. Grow a fucking pair and stand up for freedom.” 

Travis has enough to take the hit with a fine if he wanted to speak out. The last time someone was fined for saying something politically as a Niners player wearing a MAGA hat. The player was fined around $12,000. This is pennies in Travis’ world. If it meant his career with the KC Chiefs, many teams would love to have him. (A friend suggests cooking with Justin Herbert on the LA Chargers). 

However, the worst of this was coming from anti-Trump, progressives who came to Travis’ defense. The amount of copium seeing these social media posts was appalling. Such statements included, “But he said any president.” “But he was on the job!” “Travis could have been fined and punished!” “Travis could have lost his job!” “I’m sure he and Taylor talked about it!” “If you hated Travis’ quote, shouldn’t you be protesting today instead?”  “He’s protecting her! But Taylor is gonna be threatened.”

Copium is a hell of a drug.  You may have made pink hats, campaigned for Kamala, post anti-Trump memes and articles, etc…but progressive also means not taking excuses from your favorite’s. I’m not here to cancel Travis, but I’d rather he’d be called in to read the room and see what’s happening to this country in front of him. Perhaps asking himself why Jalen Hurts responded with a, “No ma’am.” I’m not mad, Travis. I’m disappointed. It was then I was glad I never bought that Kansas City Swifties sweater as my first peice of sportsball gear. My allegiance to the Chiefs by way of being a Swiftie ended. 

“Fuck that,” said Taylor Swift in the “Miss Americana” documentary when her publicist warned her that Trump may come after her. I wonder if we saw the same documentary, got the same message from “The Man” and “Miss Americana and the Heartbreak Prince.” 

When Taylor graced the game with an outfit that is giving of “The Man.” I knew what was up. Taylor is known to wear outfits that convey a message. While articles lauded how Britney Mahomes and Taylor Swift coordinated in white, the white sportscoat said everything I needed, “‘Cause if I were the man, then I’d be the man.” She’s an independent emotional support popstar that can hold her own regardless of who she’s with. 

And so, Trump left early once he saw his team was losing. Talk about a fair weather fan! Not an honorable move is it, Travis? Especially when the angry orange posts, “She got BOOED out of the Stadium.” No, our emotional support popstar was still there by the end of the night – win, loose, or draw. 

But Miss Americana, you deserve better. 

And Fly Eagles Fly. And I’m need a new AFC team (already have my NFC team…yay Seahawks!). Keeping up with sportsball is actually fun!