Taylor Swift’s music became a point of contention when Fox sought permission to play her songs during the broadcast of a Kansas City Chiefs game attended by Swift herself to support Travis Kelce. However, Swift’s record label and publishing company reportedly denied the request due to ongoing speculation about her and Kelce’s rumored romantic involvement.
Richie Zyons, NFL on Fox’s lead producer, revealed in a FoxSports.com blog post that the network attempted to secure permission to feature Swift’s music during the broadcast but were met with a firm refusal. The denial, according to Fox’s music department, was attributed to “speculations on or about her private/personal/dating life.”
Swift’s presence at Arrowhead Stadium for the Chiefs’ game was highly publicized, and she was seen cheering and celebrating alongside Kelce and his family. Despite the inability to use her music, Fox Sports managed to incorporate her appearance into their live coverage by capturing moments like Swift’s cheers during player introductions and her jubilation when Kelce scored a touchdown.
Zyons noted that their coverage struck a balance between highlighting the game and Swift’s reactions, focusing on capturing her genuine expressions during key moments of the match.
After the Chiefs’ victory, Swift was seen leaving the stadium with Travis Kelce in a convertible before joining a private afterparty to celebrate with the team. While Swift and Kelce’s interactions have garnered significant attention, sources have clarified that they have only met up a few times and are in the early stages of getting to know each other.
The two initially crossed paths when Kelce attempted to give Swift his phone number at her concert earlier in the summer, which eventually led to their interactions and Swift’s attendance at the game.
Kelce, on his “New Heights” podcast, expressed his excitement about Swift’s presence and the positive response from both players and fans. He described the game as memorable and electrifying, with Swift’s unexpected appearance adding an extra layer of excitement to the event.
