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Shaquille O’Neal hosted his "Shaq’s Fun House" Super Bowl party and talked to Fox News Digital about Taylor Swift and the big game.
Despite her celebrity, Taylor Swift has been able to maintain some anonymity when it comes to her private life.
When the pop star started dating NFL stud Travis Kelce, showing up at his highly televised football games, the world thought they’d cracked into Swift’s code.
However, Kansas City Chiefs defensive backs coach Dave Merritt is sharing how Swift was able to support Kelce without the public’s knowledge in the beginning of their relationship.
TAYLOR SWIFT’S ‘CURATED’ HOLLYWOOD IMAGE IS ‘BLUEPRINT’ FOR TRAVIS KELCE’S TINSELTOWN DREAMS
Cameras took notice when Taylor Swift attended Kansas City Chiefs games to support boyfriend Travis Kelce. (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
“When she started to come around, it was privately. She was coming into the stadiums without people really knowing until the camera put, you know, a big spotlight on it,” Merritt revealed on “The Sports Shop with Reese and K-Mac” show.
Swift was first spotted at Arrowhead Stadium during week 3 of the NFL season, when the Chiefs defeated the Chicago Bears.
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce first sparked dating rumors when she attended his Sept. 24 game against the Chicago Bears at Arrowhead Stadium. She was featured prominently on television. (Tammy Ljungblad/Kansas City Star/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
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In an interview with TIME last year, Swift disclosed the timeline of their relationship, admitting she and Kelce were already dating when the cameras caught her supporting him.
“By the time I went to that first game, we were a couple,” Swift explained. “I think some people think that they saw our first date at that game? We would never be psychotic enough to hard launch a first date.”
Cameras cut to Swift a significant number of times during that game.
Kansas City’s defensive backs coach Dave Merritt praised Taylor Swift. (Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Merritt touched upon the negative press Swift garnered throughout the season, sharing why he thought Swift was nothing but a positive influence for the Chiefs.
“Upon meeting her, I felt like she actually added to what it was that we were trying to do. Cause there were so many people that were hating the fact that she was being shown on the TV,” he suggested. “You know what, you’re a part of our family because you’re now with Travis. So therefore, you’re our little sister… whatever it may be. You’re part of [the] family,” he said.
Taylor Swift celebrated with Travis Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs after they won the AFC Championship game. (Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
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“She actually affected the team in a positive way. It wasn’t a negative way,” he added. “Everybody was excited that Travis was happy. So when my player, my brother, is happy beside me, that helps me and that encourages me and so Travis came in there a different man,” he said of the tight end.
“So, she helped us,” he said, before joking the “Bad Blood” singer had successfully won her first Super Bowl during her first season in the NFL.
Taylor Swift’s support of Travis Kelce throughout the NFL season ruffled some people’s feathers. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
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Swift has noted in the past that her intention in attending games has never been to be on camera.
“I don’t know how they know what suite I’m in,” she told TIME of photographers at the games. “There’s a camera, like, a half-mile away, and you don’t know where it is, and you have no idea when the camera is putting you in the broadcast, so I don’t know if I’m being shown 17 times or once.” Swift added, “I’m just there to support Travis. I have no awareness of if I’m being shown too much and p—ing off a few dads, Brads and Chads.”
Caroline Thayer is an entertainment writer for Fox News Digital. Follow Caroline Thayer on Twitter at @carolinejthayer. Story tips can be sent to [email protected].
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This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ©2024 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by Factset. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Legal Statement. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper.
