Politics and sports are a bad mix.
The National Football League is learning that lesson the hard way.
And the NFL went woke and now one Super Bowl champion is fighting back.
Injured New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers mocked Kansas City Chiefs’ star tight end – and rumored boyfriend of pop star Taylor Swift – Travis Kelce as “Mr. Pfizer” for Kelce’s appearance in an ad promoting the latest COVID booster.
Rodgers tagged Kelce with the derisive nickname during Rodgers’ weekly spot on the Pat McAfee show where Rodgers broke down the Jets’ narrow 23-20 loss to the defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs.
Aaron Rodgers casually calls Travis Kelce “Mr. Pfizer” while talking about how the #Jets limited him on Sunday night.
(via @PatMcAfeeShow) pic.twitter.com/aBm7LSwfJQ
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) October 3, 2023
Kelce’s political views received renewed focus now that he is reportedly dating Swift – who is in the midst of a record-setting billion-dollar concert tour – and the TV cameras incessantly focus on Swift at every possible opportunity.
Not only did Kelce endorse the COVID booster, but he also appeared in a commercial for Bud Light as the beer giant hoped to use his NFL stardom as a way to recast their beer as a drink for a man’s man after the fiasco over the sponsorship deal with transgender social media influencer Dylan Mulvaney led to a boycott.
And Kelce also showed solidarity with anti-American former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick and the violent Black Lives Matter movement by kneeling for the national anthem.
Taylor Swift’s new boyfriend KNEELS for the National Anthem. pic.twitter.com/RHx2YJxZjQ
— Stew Peters (@realstewpeters) September 30, 2023
Kelce’s reported relationship with Swift and the ensuing spotlight has Kelce wishing the attention would go away.
In a podcast with his brother – Philadelphia Eagles star lineman Jason Kelce – Travis Kelce expressed his desire that the press wouldn’t focus so much attention on Swift when she shows up at his games.
“I think it’s fun when they show who all is at the game,” Kelce stated. “I think it brings a little bit more to the atmosphere, brings a little bit more to what you’re watching. But at the same time, I think they’re overdoing it a little bit — especially my situation. I think they’re just trying to have fun with it.”
“Dude, listen, you show them once. Let them know they’re there. Maybe after a touchdown, you get a little clip; but you can’t be overboard with it,” Kelce added.
That’s unlikely as ratings have shot up for games that Swift attended as young female viewers – Swift’s target fan base – powered the boost in viewers.
And as long as Swift and Kelce are in the public glare, Kelce’s past woke political statements will continue to draw scrutiny.
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