Eagles’ Saquon Barkley Defends Taylor Swift, Criticizes Super Bowl Boos: ‘I Don’t Get It’
Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley has expressed his confusion and disappointment over the crowd’s reaction to pop superstar Taylor Swift during Super Bowl LIX. Swift, attending the game to support her partner, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, was met with boos when shown on the jumbotron at the Caesars Superdome. Reflecting on the incident during an interview on “The Howard Stern Show,” Barkley remarked, “I remember that they showed her on the jumbotron, and she got booed. I don’t get it. I don’t get why she was getting hate there.”
Barkley emphasized Swift’s positive influence on the NFL, noting that her presence has broadened the game’s appeal. He stated, “She’s there supporting her significant other, and she’s made the game bigger. In football, we’re all about, ‘How can we expand the game and make it more [international]?’ We’re traveling to Brazil, we’re traveling to Mexico. Apparently, we’re traveling to Australia soon. We’re trying to expand the game, and her being a part of it is only helping it. I don’t get the dislike she’s getting.”
Swift, originally from Pennsylvania and previously an Eagles fan, has been a frequent attendee at Chiefs games since her relationship with Kelce began. This shift in allegiance may have contributed to the negative reactions from some fans during the Super Bowl. Despite the boos, Swift continued to support Kelce throughout the game, which concluded with a 40-22 victory for the Eagles.
Barkley’s defense of Swift highlights the broader conversation about the intersection of pop culture and sports, and the role public figures play in expanding the reach and appeal of the NFL.
