The Super Bowl is set, and an unlikely name is taking over the headlines: Taylor Swift.
Swifties, Swift’s legion of diehard fans, have stormed the NFL, motivated by her relationship with Travis Kelce. In doing so, they’ve introduced new viewers into the world of football.
Kelce, Swift’s boyfriend and Kansas City tight end, is set to play the Super Bowl with the Chiefs — meaning that Swift will likely be in the stands as she has for much of the season, sparking intense interest from fans and haters alike.
The excitement is palpable with airlines introducing special “1989″ Super Bowl flights and a remarkable 400% surge in Travis Kelce jersey sales, according to Bleacher Report. On Monday, USC students weighed in on this topic that is dominating social media and the worlds of sports and pop culture.
“I think it introduces the sport to people who would have traditionally not given it a second look,” said David Clayton, a freshman studying business. “So I think it’s a positive. Definitely, because, you know, increased viewership and fan base. You know, as many people watching football is pretty awesome. I mean, my little sister cares a lot more now.”
But a number of social media critics have complained that Swift is featured too prominently during broadcasts of the games, contradicting a New York Times report that Swift’s screen time is less than 25 seconds during each almost-three hour broadcast.
Ellie Moore, a sophomore majoring in Sociology, is both a football fan and a self-proclaimed Swiftie. When asked to comment on the backlash from Taylor Swift’s NFL “takeover,” Moore said, “I think it doesn’t really take away from the game.”
“I feel like they show celebrities at games all the time,” Moore said. “I think people are just annoyed that it’s Taylor Swift.”
Some students also believe the Swifties have increased ranges in audiences and a variety of viewers.
“I think [Taylor Swift] just adds something else for people that maybe weren’t as into football, and they could kind of watch it for different reasons,” said Ryan King, a junior majoring in computer science and business administration. “So I don’t think it really takes away from the original sport.”
While there are plenty who see Swift’s weekly introduction to football as a positive, some do not share the same sentiments.
Jill Ofodu, a freshman, said much of the criticism is “misogynistic.”
“People can never win, especially girls, it’s like, guys get upset when girls don’t know … about football,” Ofodu said. “But now that girls are watching it, it’s a problem for the reason that they’re watching it…it’s a dumb conversation.”
Catalina Dyson, a freshman majoring in Worlds Bachelors Business, also emphasized the importance of having a diverse audience.
“People might think that the Super Bowl is turning into something a little more feminine, because girls will want to watch for Taylor Swift,” Dyson said. “And I know a lot of guys in the media have criticized it for that, that football’s ‘turning girly,’ even though it’s not. It’s just something that can be enjoyed by both genders.”