Taylor Swift, the NFL and the unhinged American Right
In a world where the UFC is a cherished bastion for conservatives, it comes as no surprise that those same conservatives would view Taylor Swift’s NFL alliance as a threat to the American right.
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I have often written about how written about how the UFC has emerged as a rallying point for conservatives, offering a platform that echoes their right-wing ideals. In the past few weeks, the focus has pivoted to the blossoming connection between Taylor Swift and the NFL—an alliance that, in stark contrast, is perceived as a threat to the American right.
When the Kansas City Chiefs—a team that includes Swift’s love interest, tight end Travis Kelce—upset the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Championship game Sunday night and punched their ticket to Super Bowl LVIII, conservatives and right-wing influencers claimed the Super Bowl was rigged to help reelect Joe Biden as US President.
“I wonder who’s going to win the Super Bowl next month. And I wonder if there’s a major presidential endorsement coming from an artificially culturally propped-up couple this fall,” failed presidential candidate-turned-Trump endorser Vivek Ramaswamy tweeted on Monday morning.
Failed congressional candidate Jack Lombardi tweeted a picture of Swift congratulating Kelce with a kiss after the Chiefs’ win, stating that he has “never been more convinced that the Super Bowl is rigged.” He followed up with a second tweet claiming that the Swift-Kelce relationship was a ploy designed to manipulate white women into voting for Biden. His fellow failed congressional candidate and far-right influencer Laura Loomer claimed that Swift was going to be the “poster child” for a “pro-abortion GOTV campaign.”
It gets worse. Former Trump attorney Jenna Ellis suggested on her show that Swift might replace Biden in the upcoming presidential election. Meanwhile, conspiracy theorist Jack Posobiec has been tweeting about how Swift is part of some Democrat psy-op.
“These are mascots for the establishment. High level ops used as info warfare tools of statecraft for the regime,” he tweeted after the game.
While it may be tempting to dismiss these absurd conspiracy theories, the reality is that the proponents behind them hold significant influence within modern conservative circles. This phenomenon is a reflection of the state of right-wing media in the United States, deeply ingrained in online culture wars that often diverge from reality.
However, these influential figures also recognize the potency of sports as a tool for soft power and a means to connect with indifferent, disenfranchised young men susceptible to their perspectives. Hence, many of these figures have established affiliations with sports entities that align more closely with their political leanings, including the UFC.
Over the past few years, UFC has become synonymous with rightwing politics due to its well-documented relationship with former president Donald Trump. As I have previously reported for outlets such as The Guardian, the organization effectively became the sports arm of the MAGA regime and was an ideal platform for Trump to espouse his political agenda.
White is among Trump’s most boisterous supporters, having campaigned for the former president as far back as 2016. White has defended Trump’s policies, produced a propaganda documentary on him called Combatant-in-Chief, and regularly hosted Trump as a guest-of-honour at UFC events, alongside other right-wing celebrities like Kid Rock. Countless other fighters, including a handful of former champions, have also campaigned for Trump and will likely do so again ahead of the 2024 election.
Having positioned itself as an alternative for conservative audiences dissatisfied with the rise of social justice narratives in leagues such as the NFL and NBA, the UFC has emerged as a right-wing media darling.
Media channels like Fox News frequently turn to the UFC when any of its executives or fighters express views that align with their right-wing narratives. In April 2021, White embarked on a series of conservative talk shows appearances, including spots on Sean Hannity and Candace Owens’ shows, to criticize sports leagues such as the NBA and NFL for their political advocacy—such as showing support for Black Lives Matter—during broadcasts. White also blamed so-called “woke culture” and “cancel culture” for the issues facing sports leagues.
In 2023, White participated in a three-part interview series on Tucker Carlson's Fox News show, delving into topics such as the UFC president's enduring friendship with Donald Trump, his business approach amid the Covid-19 pandemic, and his reservations about what he refers to as "woke" politics. Carlson is also a frequent guest at UFC events.
Even Ramaswamy, who was among the right-wing figures floating Swift conspiracies on Monday, interviewed White on his podcast that very same day to discuss the UFC’s success and the problems facing the US.
While the UFC has cemented itself as a cherished bastion for conservatives, aligning seamlessly with their right-wing narratives, Swift's NFL dalliance is viewed as a threat to the American right. Some believe her prior endorsement of Biden in 2020 coupled with her extraordinary popularity even presents a series obstacle in Trump’s electoral path.
While this holds some validity, Taylor Swift was never the focal point. She merely became the most recent subject in the ongoing culture war that fuels the conspiracy-driven tribalism within the MAGA movement and modern conservative circles. If your perspectives don't align with theirs, you're painted as part of the gay agenda or implicated in a Deep State plot. Similar to Target, Bud Light, the Dodgers, and Disney, Swift is just the latest figure that conservatives used to shape cultural narratives.
Buckle up. It’s going to be a long year.
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Only Karim could find a way to write aboutTaylor Swift and the UFC in the same story and make it compelling. Well done
Swift is a good example of a society with politics framed around spectacle co-opting cultural signifiers to align with whatever their current agenda is. She has often been a plug-and-play figure for various cultural/political groups and movements. Besides her 2020 endorsement of Biden, she largely keeps her mouth shut, making her the perfect canvas for a schizophrenic and culturally void American political climate.