Whoopi Goldberg has come to the defense of Taylor Swift after some Kansas City Chiefs fans attempted to blame the pop star for Travis Kelce’s slow start to the NFL season. On a recent episode of *The View*, the discussion centered around the backlash Swift has faced since attending the Chiefs’ first two games.
Goldberg was quick to dismiss the notion that Swift was responsible for Kelce’s performance, highlighting that the Chiefs had a successful run last season, winning the Super Bowl. “Apparently they forgot that they won the Super Bowl last year with [Kelce] and they were just as tight then as they are now,” she pointed out.
While the Chiefs have maintained an undefeated record this season, Kelce’s personal statistics have been less impressive, with only eight catches for 69 yards and no touchdowns. Swift attended the first two games but was absent during the recent match against the Atlanta Falcons, which ended with a close score of 22-17 in favor of the Chiefs.
Alyssa Farah Griffin, another co-host on the show, added, “As I understand it, football is a team sport, so just because [Kelce’s] not making touchdowns doesn’t mean he’s not contributing to the success of the team.” She emphasized that blaming Swift was a classic case of shifting responsibility onto a woman.
Goldberg further defended Kelce, noting, “This is a guy who’s doing movies now, he’s doing television commercials, he’s doing all kinds of stuff. He might have been a little busy, and maybe he’s not 12 anymore. He’s still a valuable player.” Her remarks aimed to highlight that Kelce’s off-field commitments could be affecting his performance without attributing blame to Swift.
Sunny Hostin echoed Goldberg’s sentiments, suggesting that the backlash might stem from more extreme elements within the fanbase. “Grow up, y’all,” Goldberg added, urging fans to stop putting the blame on Swift. “Your team is doing well, shut up!”
Following the game against the Falcons, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes also addressed the criticism surrounding Kelce. He acknowledged the high level of respect opposing teams have for Kelce, saying, “We’re calling a lot of plays for Travis, and it’s like two or three people are going to him.” Mahomes assured fans that Kelce is focused on making an impact and prioritizes winning above all.
Goldberg’s defense of Swift highlights an ongoing issue in sports and celebrity culture—how easily women can become scapegoats for issues that are ultimately part of a team dynamic. As the season progresses, it will be interesting to see how both Kelce and Swift navigate the intense scrutiny from fans and media alike.
