Stephen A. Smith says Travis Kelce was the instigator in Taylor Swift media circus

Stephen A. Smith was just trying to keep it real with Travis Kelce in regards to his lady friend, Taylor Swift. Don’t blame the NFL for something you started.

Just in case you’ve been in a pop culture blackout, the world’s biggest pop singer has become an NFL fan. Taylor Swift has popped up at two straight Chiefs games to watch new friend Travis Kelce. This past Sunday, she brought several famous friends to sit with her in a private suite at MetLife Stadium. NBC cameras panned to Swift, who was with Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, among others, after every significant play in a 23-20 Chiefs win over the Jets.

The NFL was more than willing to reach out to the Swifties via social media. The league even changed the bio on its X account that the Chiefs were 2-0 when Taylor Swift cheered on Travis Kelce in person.

On Wednesday, Kelce blamed the NFL for going overboard. He and brother, Jason, have a weekly podcast called New Heights.

“I think it’s fun when they show who all is at the game,” Travis Kelce said. “I think it brings a little bit more to the atmosphere, brings more to what you’re watching. But at the same time… They’re overdoing it a little bit for sure, especially my situation. I think they’re just trying to have fun with it…”

Jason Kelce added, “I just think the NFL is not used to having celebrities come to the games. Basketball has it figured out. They’re all courtside, they’re sitting there, they show them once or twice and then they get back to the game.”

Jason and Travis Kelce call out the NFL and NBC for going “overboard” on Taylor Swift coverage. pic.twitter.com/fT0xtn3RjB

— Jimmy Traina (@JimmyTraina) October 4, 2023

Stephen A says Travis Kelce created Taylor Swift overreaction

However, on Thursday’s First Take, Smith told Travis Kelce that he was to blame if the Taylor Swift circus has grown bigger than anyone expected.

You can check out the exchange:

"Travis Kelce, stop. Bro, you did this. Not the NFL." – Stephen A. Smith. pic.twitter.com/qCUx1Rr2Bi

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) October 5, 2023

Smith began his lecture: “Travis Kelce, stop. Bro, you did this, not the NFL. Now if the NFL has 27 million viewers, more power to them. What about Taylor Swift? She’s sitting there promoting her new album. … You being at an NFL game, doesn’t it help you? Don’t you have a movie coming out? Didn’t you make $6 million at a concert? She’s a marketing genius.”

One of the First Take hosts pointed out that Swift didn’t need the NFL. She already had plenty of money and prestige.

“First of all, stop it,” Smith said. “Go after more money. It ain’t about what you need. It’s America, everybody is greedy … She’s a marketing genius. That’s number one. Number two, Travis Kelce, you were once part of a dating reality series. Wasn’t it Catching Kelce where 50 women, one from each state, were pursuing Travis Kelce.

Stephen A. continued, addressing the rest of his talk towards Kelce: “Here’s the deal. We didn’t know anything about Taylor Swift, she was going on her concerts, going on her tour. She was in Kansas City, you wanted to meet up with her. She didn’t want to talk before because she was trying to save her voice. You let the world know, you had a bracelet made for her and you wanted to give her your phone number. Come on bro, come on now. Listen, this all is fun. Maybe it’s a bit excessive.”

But, if Travis Kelce is worried about whether there’s too much craziness around his love life, maybe don’t involve Taylor Swift, one of the world’s most famous women.