Stephen A. Smith has offered a defense of Taylor Swift after ex-NFL coach Tony Dungy said the pop megastar is ‘disenchanting’ football fans.
Swift, who started publicly dating Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce in September, has been a fixture at his games this season – and on TV broadcasts as well.
And while some feel that the continued focus on the singer has been bad for the sport, Smith stood up for her in a new episode of his eponymous show, calling Dungy’s remarks ‘shocking.’
‘I went to a Taylor Swift concert. That s*** was off the chain,’ he said. ‘That was something special. It’s getting ridiculous how she’s being criticized by some, insulted by others, blamed by many – grow up.
‘And in the case of Tony Dungy, it’s like, come on man, can we stop this sir? Please, respectfully, please? Love Tony Dungy, love him to death. But you’re blaming Taylor Swift for disinterest in NFL action?
The pop sensation has been at Arrowhead this season to support boyfriend Travis Kelce
Tony Dungy said he believed the heightened focus on Swift had ‘disenchanted’ fans
But Stephen A. Smith came to an impassioned defense of the popstar in a new video
‘Second-highest TV ratings since 2000, second highest Monday Night Football ratings since 2000, 97 of the top 100 TV programs of 2023,’ Smith continued, pointing to various NFL viewing stats from this season. ‘What are we talking about? Let her live her life.’
Dungy, who won a Super Bowl with the Colts in 2007, was recently asked for his thoughts on the Swift frenzy.
He told Fox News, ‘That’s the thing that’s disenchanting people with sports now, there’s so much on the outside coming in – entertainment value and different things.
‘It’s taking away from what really happens on the field.’
Prime Video play-by-play man Al Michaels also told Sports Illustrated earlier this season, ‘You can’t make a sideshow the show. The vast majority of the audience are tuning in to watch a football game.’
Swift has received huge attention when attending Kansas City Chiefs games this season
Nonetheless, Swift has previously seemed unbothered by the criticism that she’s faced.
‘I’m just there to support Travis,’ she told TIME. ‘I have no awareness of if I’m being shown too much [on TV] and p****ng off a few dads, Brads, and Chads.’
Swift seen dancing alongside his mom Donna and Brittany Mahomes during Kansas City’s playoff win over the Miami Dolphins at a freezing cold Arrowhead on Saturday night.
Kelce’s Chiefs will travel to frosty Buffalo this weekend for a divisional round clash, though it’s unclear if Swift will make the trip.