At the US Open men's final on September 10, 2024, Taylor Swift publicly supported Brittany Mahomes, sparking debate due to recent political controversies. The event, held at Flushing Meadows in New York City, saw Swift embracing Mahomes in the VIP area, despite the latter's apparent support for former President Donald Trump.
Brittany Mahomes, wife of Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, faced criticism after liking Trump's Instagram post outlining the 2024 Republican platform on August 13. This action led to backlash on social media, with Mahomes responding to critics on August 26:
"Contrary to the tone of the world today...you can disagree with someone, and still love them. You can have differing views, and still be kind."
The controversy deepened when Trump acknowledged Mahomes on Truth Social, a platform he launched in 2022, praising her for "defending" him and expressing anticipation of seeing her at the Super Bowl.
Swift's association with Mahomes has raised eyebrows, given the pop star's previous political stance. In October 2020, Swift endorsed Joe Biden for president, a move that marked her increased political activism since 2018. Biden, now the 46th President of the United States, took office in January 2021.
The singer's current silence on her 2024 political preferences has led to speculation and criticism from some fans. One social media user commented, "I don't expect a billionaire to lead the revolution or anything I'm just confused as to why one would make a movie about standing up for what's right at any cost only to literally never stand for anything again."
Swift's relationship with Travis Kelce, considered one of the best tight ends in NFL history, began in September 2023. Kelce plays alongside Patrick Mahomes for the Kansas City Chiefs, who have won three Super Bowl championships, most recently in February 2023.
The US Open, one of the four Grand Slam events in professional tennis, provided an unexpected backdrop for this intersection of sports, entertainment, and politics. As the NFL season progresses towards the Super Bowl, one of the most-watched television events worldwide, the spotlight on these celebrities and their political affiliations is likely to intensify.
This incident highlights the complex relationship between celebrity influence and political discourse in the United States, where the NFL remains the most popular sports league and social media platforms like Instagram boast over a billion monthly active users globally.