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The developing romantic narrative between singer Taylor Swift and football player Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs took a surprising twist into the realm of political conspiracies this week following the team’s advancement to the Super Bowl.
Numerous unfounded speculations surfaced on various online platforms – ranging from allegations that Swift was involved in psychological operations for the Pentagon, to the belief that she and her boyfriend, a two-time Super Bowl champion, are key players in a covert scheme to aid President Joe Biden’s reelection in 2024. Another version suggests that the Chiefs’ victory was fixed as part of a larger strategy for the February 11th game in Las Vegas.
Conservative leaders and influencers, such as ex-GOP nominee Vivek Ramaswamy, political advocate Laura Loomer, and One America News Network anchor Alison Steinberg, have spread and emphasized the accusations.
The assertions are absurd and may demonstrate the concern among conservatives that a prominent figure like Swift, whose groundbreaking Eras Tour is the first to exceed one billion dollars in revenue, could potentially sway the outcome of the presidential election if she encourages her massive fan base to support a particular candidate.
The relationship between pop culture and politics has existed for a long time. The entertainment field has been a significant source of political donations, and politicians frequently rely on the fame of celebrities to enhance their appeal.
The strength of the influence is not entirely certain. In the case of Swift, there is some evidence that she is capable of increasing voter registration, at the very least.
In September, Taylor Swift shared a brief message on her Instagram page urging her 272 million followers to actively participate in voting. As a result, over 35,000 people registered through the nonpartisan organization Vote.org.
Swift’s massive fan base gives her a powerful voice. An SSRS poll conducted in October 2023 found that about 6 in 10 U.S. adults called themselves at least casual fans of the singer, with 8% saying they’re big fans. The poll also found that 8 in 10 U.S. adults said they had heard of her relationship with Kelce and the majority of those familiar with it considered it a real relationship, rather than a publicity stunt.
According to Joel Penney, an associate professor at Montclair State University, people in popular culture relate to and prioritize these topics. This has a significant impact on politics today, as attention and identity are key factors. The fame Donald Trump gained from being a reality TV star played a role in his unexpected rise to the presidency in 2016.
However, the unfounded allegations surrounding Swift are so extreme that they will push the boundaries of how influential a conspiracy theory can be. Penney believes that the sudden surge of online content targeting Swift is an effort to weaken her impact by discrediting her beforehand.
According to Penney, Swift’s impact could be a challenge to overcome, especially if she openly endorses Biden, like she did during the 2020 election.
The criticisms against Swift may actually energize younger voters who are looking to support her.
According to Henry Jenkins, a professor at the University of Southern California who studies politics and pop culture, young individuals are using a language influenced by popular culture to engage in their political battles. This common connection is what drives their involvement.
Both Swift and Kelce have publicly expressed their views on politics and other topics, which have caused conflict with the far-right.
In 2018, Swift changed her stance on sharing her political beliefs and publicly declared her support for Tennessee’s Democratic Senate nominee Phil Bredesen and Democratic House representative Jim Cooper on Instagram. She criticized Republican candidate Marsha Blackburn, who ultimately won the Senate election, for her views against LGBTQ+ rights and her vote against reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act in 2013.
In the year 2020, Swift publicly expressed her support for Biden and Vice President Harris during an interview with V Magazine. She stated that with their leadership, she believes America has the opportunity to begin the much-needed healing process.
In September, Kelce received backlash for participating in a commercial advocating for both the flu and COVID-19 vaccines, as advised by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The commercial was a collaboration with Pfizer, the pharmaceutical company behind a vaccine created in response to the pandemic, but has been heavily targeted by anti-vaccine advocates and conspiracy theorists.
Celebrities and the entertainment world have been involved in political campaigns for many years, even before the well-known duo known as Swelce. In 1992, former President Bill Clinton made an appearance on MTV while he was still governor of Arkansas. Popular figures such as Johnny Cash, Mary Tyler Moore, and Willie Nelson showed their support for former President Jimmy Carter over 40 years ago during his second bid for the presidency. Ronald Reagan, who had previously worked as an actor, began his political career as well.
Penney stated that the question of whether popular culture can be affected by this material has been answered with a resounding yes, as evidenced by its success and historical evidence.
Source: independent.co.uk
