The Taylor and Travis romance is the distraction America needs
Leading up to the Super Bowl, a reporter asked Travis Kelce why he thinks millions of Americans are so fascinated by his relationship with Taylor Swift.
The Kansas City Chiefs star tight end fumbled the answer. There was nothing wrong with what he said, per se. Yet, speaking as one of the fascinated, I'd say that his response seemed incomplete.
Kelse chalked up the intense public interest in his romance with the megastar to “the values that we stand for and just who we are as people.”
To the two-time Super Bowl champion, the fascination with him and his girlfriend is all about who they are as individuals
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and the kind of human beings they strive to be as they walk through life.
“We love to shine light on others, shine light around the people that help and support us,” Kelce said. “I feel like we both have just a love for life.”
That's all well and good — albeit a tad narcissistic. But Kelce may well be onto something. For many people, this may indeed be why they're drawn to this story. The T & T love affair looks like the classic example of when good things happen to good people.
Besides, it's not for me to say otherwise. I can't speak for others. I can only speak for myself. And I think there is more to it.
At least there is for me. You see, I have a confession. I'm one of those folks who has not — over the last several months -been able to look away from the romance between the All-Pro professional football player and world-famous singer, songwriter and performer. It's my guilty pleasure.
When it comes to Travis and Taylor, I can't get enough. If I see an online article on the couple, I'll probably click on it. If I spot a magazine cover on the celebrity couple, I'll likely buy the magazine. If I hear mention of the pair on radio or television, I'll stop to listen.
With Valentine's Day here, I decided to sit down and think through what it is about this love story that I'm so smitten with.
Ultimately, I was drawn in by three things.
First, the fact that these two people are both at the top of their game. Both of them are 34 years old, rich, famous, hardworking and extremely good at what they do. All that makes them an excellent fit for one another. There's not a trace of the inequality or unevenness we often see with other celebrity pairings.
They both seem to have met their match. And although Swift's net worth is estimated to be about 20 times greater than Kelce's, they're both financially successful and living comfortably. Finally, neither one is dating the other for the sake of attention or publicity. They each have enough of those things already.
Next, I can't resist the family aspect of this story. Taylor and Travis' mother, Donna Kelce, have been spotted cheerfully enjoying each other's company while seated in luxury suites at
Chiefs games. And the Swifts (Scott and Andrea) finally met Travis' father, Ed Kelce, in December when the Chiefs played the Las Vegas Raiders. Both sets of parents obviously approve of the relationship, and everyone seems pleased. The siblings are also onboard. Taylor's brother, Austin, dressed up as Santa Claus and presented Travis with a gift. And, more recently, Jason Kelce — an All-Pro himself who recently retired from the NFL after a stellar career with the Philadelphia Eagles — referred to Taylor as part of the “whole family.”
Finally, in this presidential election year, I need the distraction. No, I'm serious. I really need this. I consume, from a variety of mediums, seven days a week, an unhealthy amount of news about politics.