Taylor Swift made history (again!) at the Grammys this week, winning the prestigious ‘Album of the Year’ award for her 2022 album Midnights, which marked her fourth time receiving this accolade and a first for any artist. The “Anti-Hero” singer, 34, also clinched the ‘Best Pop Vocal Album’ prize for her 10th studio album.
Prior to the Grammys, fans eagerly anticipated seeing Swift and her boyfriend, NFL athlete Travis Kelce attend their first red carpet event together. Unfortunately, Kelce, also 34, could not make it to the February 4th ceremony due to his preparations for the Super-Bowl, where his team, the Kansas City Chiefs, aims to win the championship title.
The “Lavender Haze” songwriter has shown support for Kelce by attending 12 of his regular and playoff football games in the past few months, even joining his family in a private suite for some of them. Kelce has returned the gesture by attending Swift’s Eras Tour concerts. Despite this, many Swifties expressed their disappointment with Kelce’s absence, and some on X (formerly Twitter) even criticized him as a “terrible boyfriend.”
Travis Kelce Garners Backlash From Fans On X After Missing Taylor Swift's Historic 2024 Grammy Moments
During his appearance on the Pat McAfee Show on January 31st, Kelce expressed his wish to support the "Cruel Summer" hitmaker at the Grammys, but stressed that he could not attend. "I wish I could go support Taylor at the Grammys and watch her win every single award that she’s nominated for," he said. The Kansas City Chiefs tight end added: "But I think I got practice on Sunday. I know I got practice Saturday, but Sunday is a travel day. Unfortunately I’ve got to get ready for this big ol’ Super Bowl that we’ve got in a week."
On X, many fans thought his words were "sweet" and some tweeted that they "understood" why Kelce could not attend the ceremony in support of Swift. Others, however, had a bone to pick with his absence and shared their frustrations online.
"Travis kelce a terrible boyfriend hes not at the Grammy’s for his girl," one wrote soon after the award show as another added: "Hang on, hang on: am I understanding correctly that Travis Kelce did not go to the Grammy’s but, “despite a grueling travel schedule” (as one online news outlet reported), Taylor Swift WILL be at the Super Bowl???" Someone else chimed in, tweeting: "It’s kinda fake of Travis Kelce to not be at the Grammy’s." One other added: "Travis Kelce didn’t go to the Grammy’s to support Taylor Swift???"
Taking the field for the February 11th Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Kelce will represent the Kansas City Chiefs as their talented tight end against the San Francisco 49ers. Sources confirmed to TMZ last week that Kelce planned to arrive in Las Vegas on February 4th, the same day when the Grammys took place.
According to the outlet, the football star and his team "will be on a strict schedule ahead of squaring up to the 49ers." Sources firmly stated that Kelce could not make the journey from Vegas to Los Angeles to accompany Swift at the awards ceremony, leaving no room for speculation. Swift, on the other hand, wasn't able to linger too long after the awards ceremony.
The "Blank Space" singer kicked off her Eras Tour in Tokyo on February 7th and will perform through the 10th before dashing to Sin City to attend her beau's significant match. One source sat down with Page Six last week and opened up about the 1989 (Taylor's Version) artist's reported schedule. "It’s a brutal flight, but she’ll get on her plane right after the [February 10] concert," the source said.
Despite the 10-hour flight, Swift can arrive in Vegas with ample time, courtesy of the time difference. Another insider dished to People Magazine last week that Kelce and the Chiefs "are focusing on the Super Bowl" and that "it’s going to be an intense" time for them leading up to it.
They also shared that he and Swift are cherishing every second together and that their relationship is continuing to blossom. "It’s obvious, isn’t it? They’re genuinely happy together," the source said. They added: "She’s there to support him and cheer him on, and she’s fit in seamlessly with everyone he loves."
