FOX Sports analyst Colin Cowherd defended broadcast networks for showing Taylor Swift while criticizing people who continue to complain about how often she’s showed on air.
Swift has become a fixture of NFL broadcasts’ attention – but she’s also received criticism from people who don’t want to see her on their television.
In a rant, Cowherd blasted those critics saying their complaints were overblown and that their vitriol toward Swift may be rooted in sexism.
‘There’s a lot of really weird, lonely, insecure men out there,’ Cowherd began.
‘The fact that a pop star, the world’s biggest pop star, is dating a star tight end who had one of his greatest games ever [in the AFC Championship game], and a network puts them on the air briefly, that it bothers you. What does that say about your life?
Colin Cowherd went on an explosive rant against men complaining about Taylor Swift
Swift has been a lightning rod for angry men who are mad that she’s on their televisions
‘Judge people sometimes on the silly stuff that bothers them. It’ll tell you a lot about them. When I hear this whole thing about Taylor Swift, [people say] “I just want to watch football.” Liar. You’re lying. That’s not true.
‘A football telecast is not just football. In fact, the commercials for 4 hours before the Super bowl will be widely watched. Did you know, statistically, in a three and a half hour NFL playoff broadcast or regular season broadcast, just 18 minutes are actual football.
‘And we have the data, we have the numbers. You don’t turn away. There’s coaches cutaways. They show fans in Buffalo on fire. Commercials, reviews, 18 minutes of real football for the record, about the length of five Taylor Swift songs.
‘Listen to this. The New York Times measured how long she was actually on the broadcast. Do you know how long it is? On average? 25 seconds. In three and a half hours. Against the Ravens, it was up to a whopping 32 seconds. It was 14 [for] Chiefs and Raiders on Christmas. Twelve [for] Chiefs and Bengals, 24 seconds [for] Buffalo-Kansas City.
‘She was on for a minute against the Dolphins. But it was an absolutely awful broadcast. They should have had a concert in the middle of it. That would have been more interesting. And why wouldn’t CBS, which, you know, has the Grammys, cross promote the world’s biggest pop star?
‘Hey, listen, I work at the other network. I work at Fox. I’ve seen us jam people on tv shows I would never watch during football games and sporting events. Don’t forget to watch this right after the game. I’ve already forgot about it. Let’s get back to the game. But I don’t have to rush to social media. I’m okay with it.’
Cowherd then pointed out that stars like Matthew McConaughey, Drake, Spike Lee, Eminem, and Jack Nicholson are shown on television at sporting events all the time without complaints from the audience.
‘But a talented and beautiful woman is on the air, one who would never pay attention to lonely men, and it bothers them.’
Data shows that Swift is only aired for an average of 25 seconds for every NFL game she’s at
Her boyfriend, Travis Kelce, is headed to the Super Bowl and will take on the 49ers in Vegas
He continued: ‘There’s a stat out there – it’s kind of uncomfortable for you sad guys – that 50% of men never have real intimacy with a woman. That means the other 50% have multiple intimate relationships with women.
‘And those ones that don’t are angry and sad and lonely. And they are often misogynistic and resent women who didn’t give them the time they think they deserve.
‘We celebrate all these goofballs jumping on tables in Buffalo and cheese hats [in Green Bay]… and Matthew McConaughey and Drake and Jack Nicholson… and it’s cool…
‘A young, attractive, beautiful, talented woman comes on for 25 seconds and you’re bothered again. Judge people by the silly things that bother them.
‘This anger, this says nothing about Taylor Swift. It says everything about the men bothered by it.’
It’s likely that there will be more rage towards Swift as she’s expected to attend Super Bowl LVIII – where Kelce and the Chiefs will be playing.