Travis Kelce quickly endeared himself to many Taylor Swift fans.
Say what you want about the Kansas City Chiefs tight end, who once starred in the "Catching Kelce" reality TV dating series. But he's unlike the other celebrities Swift dated in the past. He's just a dude -- a classic meathead jock in many respects -- and that's what makes him so perfect for Swift, a global icon whose fame surpasses that of the two-time Super Bowl champion.
Sure, there are haters. And the in-your-face coverage of Swift's appearances at Chiefs games undoubtedly is off-putting for many zealous football followers. But maybe -- just maybe -- these kids have a chance. After all, winning over the Swifties -- something Kelce seemingly cemented with his recent chivalry -- is half the battle, right?
Well, enter the first true point of contention: Jackson Mahomes, brother of Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
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To be clear, this has nothing to do with the actual budding relationship between Swift and Kelce. It appears things are rather rosy for the new lovebirds, with Swift even getting along quite well with Kelce's family.
But Jackson Mahomes is annoying at best. A scumbag at worst. So, some Swift fans were none too pleased Sunday when the music superstar was spotted high-fiving and rubbing elbows with the polarizing influencer during the Chiefs' 31-17 win over the Los Angeles Chargers at Arrowhead Stadium.
Look, it would be foolish to expect Swift to throw away her relationship with Kelce over some creep lurking in the background. Still, the awkwardness of the situation wasn't lost on the internet.
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Swift's evolving friendship with Brittany Mahomes, Patrick's wife, is kind of cringeworthy, if only because Brittany has been villainized over the years for her own annoying antics. But it's ultimately harmless and probably a necessary evil -- getting along with your partner's teammate's spouse -- whereas Swift befriending Jackson Mahomes just feels icky, for lack of a better word.
Jackson Mahomes was arrested in May and charged with aggravated sexual battery after an incident in which he allegedly tried to forcibly kiss the owner of a Kansas restaurant. TMZ released security footage of the alleged incident. Jackson Mahomes' attorney claimed there to be "substantial evidence" refuting the accuser's claims.
Regardless of the legal outcome, it was unsettling for many to see Swift -- the subject of a high-profile sexual assault trial back in 2017 -- be all buddy-buddy with Jackson Mahomes on Sunday. From a public relations standpoint, she'd be best served distancing herself from the 22-year-old TikTok creator. Although, admittedly, that could open a whole different can of worms as she navigates the early stages of her relationship with Kelce.
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All told, it's a tough spot for T-Swift. The optics weren't great Sunday. And that's a shame, because everything else seems to be trending in the right direction for her and Kelce -- including the Chiefs' 2023 season.
Featured image via Jay Biggerstaff/USA TODAY Sports Images
