Calm Down! Celebrities Who Have Defended Taylor Swift From the ‘Brads and Chads’ of the NFL

Colin Cowherd

Colin Cowherd, a popular sportscaster, deemed Taylor’s NFL haters “really weird, lonely, insecure men.”

“The fact that a pop star — the world’s biggest pop star — [is] dating a star tight end, who had one of his greatest games ever, and the network puts them on the air briefly, that bothers you. What does that say about your life?” Colin said during a January 2024 episode of his radio show “The Herd.”

“Did you know, statistically, in a three-hour NFL broadcast … just 18 minutes are actual football, and we have the data, you don’t turn away,” Colin continued. “There’s coach cutaways, they show fans in Buffalo on fire, commercials, reviews. [It’s] 18 minutes of real football, [which] for the record [is] about the length of five Taylor Swift songs.”

Stephen A. Smith

Stephen A. Smith hasn’t been quiet in his defense of the “Anti-Hero” singer.

“I have to take a moment to come to the defense of Taylor Swift,” Stephen said during a January 2024 ESPN broadcast. “Everybody’s sitting up there and acting like she’s some kind of impediment. … She’s going to support her dude. To show up at a football game and the cameras are on her — that ain’t her fault! And excuse me, by the way, she went to the games after the concerts. It’s not like she used the games to bump up the concerts.”

Charles Barkley

Charles went on a mini rant during his show King Charles about people claiming that Taylor was somehow ruining football.

“If you’re screaming at Taylor Swift saying she ruined [football], you’re just a loser,” Charles said during a February 2024 episode. “You’re just a loser or a jackass. You’re either A or B. You’re one of the two.”

Gayle King

Gayle added to ​Charles’ comments as a guest on his show.

“Look at all the new people she’s brought to the NFL,” Gayle pointed out. “You see young teen girls that are now watching football for the first time.”

Bob Costas

Bob, who appeared on King Charles alongside Gayle, pondered if Taylor’s support of Joe Biden in the past might be what was fueling the anger toward her from some NFL fans.

“Because they don’t like something about Taylor Swift — either they don’t like the Chiefs or they’ve inferred that Taylor Swift might not be a Trumper — then they’re annoyed by Taylor Swift,” Bob said to Gayle and Charles. “I can guarantee that all this news on Fox News would not be happening if she was wearing a MAGA hat. They would love it.”

Dan Marino

NFL superstar Dan Marino didn’t understand any of the negativity towards Taylor and pointed out that she “hasn’t affected any games” by attending to Us Weekly in January 2024.

She might as well have fun and enjoy it while she’s dating one of the stars in the NFL. And what’s wrong with that?” Dan asked. “Nothing.”

J.J. Watt

J.J. Watt, who formerly played for the Houston Texans, didn’t see the difference between the Speak Now songstress attending games ​versus any other celebrity.

“I mean, they show celebrities at games all the time. Don’t act like we don’t show male celebrities at games all the time,” J.J. said to Us Weekly in January 2024. “I don’t really understand why it’s caused such an uproar. I mean, she’s literally there supporting her significant other, and that’s what you should do as a significant other.”

Trevor Noah

Jo Koy received backlash about his Taylor-inspired joke during the 2023 Emmys, but Grammy host Trevor Noah pointedly defended Taylor.

“I think it is so unfair how NFL fans have been complaining about the cameras cutting to Taylor Swift,” Noah told the audience. “Like she’s been controlling the cameras at the games. Like just let her live. In fact tonight, on Taylor’s behalf I’m going to give her a break. Every time they mention Taylor Swift, I’m going to get revenge. Every time someone says Taylor Swift, I’m going to cut the cameras to someone who played football, that’s what I’ll do!”

Shannon Sharpe

Former NFL star Shannon Sharpe admitted that he likes the different audience Taylor is bringing to the sport of football.

“They lose a game, [some will say] it’s because of her. And they win a game, [some will ask], ‘Why [are] the cameras on her?’ But I like it,” Shannon told Us Weekly in January 2024. “I like it for him. I like her being at the game. She brings a different set of eyeballs to the game. There are a lot of young girls and women that are watching the NFL football that could care less about that. And so the NFL’s, like, ‘Hey, if we get new eyeballs, we get new customers, we’re onboard.’”

Lance Bass

‘NSync alum Lance Bass stood up for Taylor after bringing a cheeky sign to the Broncos vs. Chiefs game.

“I wanted to poke fun at the situation since some people are having such a hard time with her at the games, but I definitely wasn’t expecting it to get the reaction that it did!” Lance exclusively told Life & Style in February 2024. “I think it’s great that the NFL is showing Taylor there supporting Travis. I think it brings a younger audience to the NFL and is creating some great bonding moments for families.”

Jennifer Coolidge

The White Lotus star Jennifer Coolidge questioned Taylor naysayers while promoting her pregame Super Bowl commercial for Discover.

“I really like her. I really like him,” she told Today about Taylor and Travis on February 7, 2024. “It’s so funny. Why would anyone be critiquing Taylor for anything after all, when they say how much she’s contributed now, how much these games have done financially, and how much she’s added to the game? And actually, even more important than financially, how much interest she’s piqued to people that aren’t even interested in it. How cool is that?”