C.J. Gardner-Johnson; Taylor Swift. Photo: AP; Getty
Philadelphia Eagles safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson isn’t backing down after igniting controversy with his anti-Taylor Swift stance.
A Bold Statement at the Parade
During the Eagles’ Super Bowl victory parade on Feb. 14, Gardner-Johnson showed up in a sweatshirt that read: “Swifties can LIX my balls.” His choice of attire fueled the fire after he previously made waves with an Instagram Story on Feb. 10, suggesting that Travis Kelce should have stuck with ex-girlfriend Kayla Nicole instead of dating Swift.
Swifties Clap Back
Unsurprisingly, the backlash was swift (pun intended). Fans from all corners—including Eagles supporters—criticized the safety for his remarks. Even his mother’s Florida-based restaurant got caught in the crossfire, with negative Yelp reviews pouring in.
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Swift Booed at Super Bowl
Days before the parade, Swift faced an icy reception at the Super Bowl when she appeared on the Jumbotron at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on Feb. 9. The pop icon, 35, was booed by a loud Eagles crowd—an unexpected contrast to the warm welcome she received when promoting her Eras Tour in the same city last October.
Despite looking surprised, Swift played it cool. She exchanged side-eyes with her friends, rapper Ice Spice and stylist Ashley Avignone, and shrugged off the negativity.
Eagles Star Defends Swift
Not everyone on the team agreed with the backlash. Star running back Saquon Barkley expressed his disappointment during an interview on The Howard Stern Show, saying he didn’t understand why fans were against Swift.
“She’s made the game bigger,” Barkley said, noting that Swift’s presence has only helped expand the NFL’s audience. Stern agreed.
A Growing Divide
The Taylor Swift-Travis Kelce romance has undeniably brought new eyes to the sport. But with the latest Eagles drama, it seems not everyone is thrilled about the pop star’s growing influence in the NFL.
