NFL Fans Use Simone Biles Shield to Re-Ignite Taylor Swift Viewership Drama: “Fake and Staged”

As the saying goes, “Excess of everything is bad.” Well, that definitely seemed true recently for gymnastics fans, especially Simone Biles’ die-hard followers, who tuned into NFL coverage. On Sunday, September 15, Taylor Swift, 34, was back at Arrowhead Stadium, cheering on her NFL star boyfriend, Travis Kelce, also 34, and the Kansas City Chiefs as they took on the Cincinnati Bengals. As usual, her outfit was a showstopper, but this time, it wasn’t just her fashion that had everyone talking—it was the whole scene.

Swift certainly knows how to grab attention. This time, she turned heads in an oversized vintage ’90s Chiefs t-shirt, styled as a dress, paired with thigh-high black leather Giuseppe Zanotti boots. She accessorized with a Louis Vuitton Coussin BB-style woven purse and jewelry, including a Melinda Maria chain necklace.

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Well, Simone Biles’ husband, Jonathan Owens, plays safety for the Chicago Bears, and she’s been a huge supporter at his games. Last weekend, Owens pulled off an amazing play that had Biles beaming with pride. The Bears were behind against the Tennessee Titans when defensive lineman Daniel Hardy blocked a punt attempt by Ryan Stonehouse.

Owens grabbed the loose ball and ran it 21 yards for a touchdown, narrowing the Bears’ deficit from 17-3 to 17-10. Soldier Field went wild! While Biles was there cheering on her husband, she didn’t get as much screen time as Taylor Swift usually does at NFL games. It’s clear that Biles’ spotlight tends to be a bit dimmer compared to Swift’s. For gymnastics fans, this lack of spotlight is frustrating, and they’ve been voicing their dissatisfaction with X.

One fan recently asked, “When Simone Biles or Ciara are at their husbands’ games, why don’t the cameras cut to them randomly?” It’s a fair question, especially considering their star power. Ciara, the famous singer and actress, is married to Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson. With over 35 million Instagram followers and a career that includes a Super Bowl win for Wilson with the Seattle Seahawks in 2013, it’s surprising she doesn’t get more camera time.

Similarly, Simone Biles, who just won three gold medals at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, also shows up at her husband’s games, though sometimes in the wrong team’s jacket. With 12.8 million Instagram followers, she’s balancing her appearances with her Gold Over America Tour and building a new home. Yet she seems to get less attention compared to Taylor Swift.

But Taylor Swift, despite not having a college degree, has amassed a fortune of over $1.3 billion and hundreds of millions of social media followers. She’s become a regular feature in NFL coverage when she attends games, especially since linking up with Travis Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs. Since 2023, Swift has reportedly added $331.5 million in brand value for the Chiefs and the NFL, according to Apex Marketing. It’s clear that while Taylor Swift’s presence makes a huge splash, other celebrities like Biles and Ciara don’t quite get the same spotlight; this might be the reason.

Another fan chimed in, “They do not show others as much as they do Taylor. Simone Biles got NO WHERE NEAR this attention than she did. K Juice wife, Mahomes or any other celebrity so why does she receive all the coverage damn near every second of play and celebration?” This frustration highlights a broader issue about media focus, with some feeling Swift receives excessive screen time.

Meanwhile, Simone Biles, who knows how to grab attention herself, recently made headlines for a different reason. At a Chicago Bears game supporting her husband, Jonathan Owens, she wore a Green Bay Packers jacket—despite the fierce rivalry between the Packers and the Bears. The fashion choice didn’t go unnoticed, with fans calling it “ridiculously unaware of your surroundings and insulting to her husband.” The jacket, showcasing Owens’ action shots and the Packers logo, was considered a misstep since Owens had only played for the Packers in 2023 before joining the Bears. But it caught enough attention.

Another fan pointed out, “Simone Biles never gets the camera time at these games. Tony Romo’s ex, Jessica Simpson, used to get shown all the time, but now we’re stuck seeing Taylor Swift non-stop. People want to watch football, not get updates on Swift and Kelce’s relationship every week.” Similarly, another fan expressed frustration: “It feels fake and staged. I like Taylor and her music, but it’s annoying that it seems like she’s made more important than the actual game. Simone Biles is married to a player too, but we hardly ever see her.”

One more added, “Simone Biles never gets shown this much….“However, most recently, Simone Biles was noticeably missing from Jonathan Owens’ game on Sunday Night Football, but there’s a solid reason behind it. While Owens and the Chicago Bears faced off against the Houston Texans, Biles was busy launching her Gold Over America Tour in Oceanside, California. Even though she couldn’t be at the game, Biles has been a supporter of Owens, celebrating his NFL milestones and showing her love from the sidelines.

One fan remarked, “What about Simone Biles? F–kin 11 Olympic medals. American hero, but no one says sh-t about her.” Despite her impressive achievements, including a total of 11 Olympic medals and 30 World Championship medals, making her the most decorated gymnast in history, Biles often flies under the radar compared to other celebrities. Even after snagging the all-around gold medal in Paris, Biles was all about Swift’s music. During her floor routine, she danced to “Ready for It?” and totally got the crowd buzzing. It looks like no matter how many medals she racks up, Swift’s beats are still her go-to for some Olympic floor flair.

However, many consider her one of the greatest gymnasts and Olympians of all time. So, with all that in mind, shouldn’t she be getting a bit more screen time, especially in sports coverage?

Maleehah Shakeel is an Olympic Sports writer at EssentiallySports who covers equestrian sports, rodeo, bull riding, and Gymnastics. Maleehah’s stories revolve around various brand endorsement deals of athletes like Jessica Springsteen, Jennifer Gates, and Olivia Dunne. She has written in depth about the brand collaboration between Jessica Springsteen and Tommy Hilfiger.