Skip Bayless, a prominent sports commentator, voiced his growing fatigue with the media spotlight on Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce, and Brittany Mahomes during a recent discussion with his wife, Ernestine Sclafani Bayless. The couple shared their thoughts via a video posted on X, addressing the Kansas City Chiefs and the celebrity couple's influence on the sport.
“I dread football,” Ernestine stated candidly, reflecting on the upcoming season. “Once July ends and August begins, I know it’s coming. This year, I dreaded the return of Taylor Swift with Travis Kelce just as much as the football itself.” Her sentiments echoed a common frustration among fans who feel that celebrity relationships are overshadowing the game.
“Isn’t anybody else sick of it?” she questioned, prompting Skip to chime in with his agreement. “Every time Kelce catches a pass, there’s a shot of Taylor in the box, cheering wildly.” He noted that the narrative surrounding the couple has shifted focus away from the game itself.
Ernestine elaborated, “This is bigger than football now. The attention is more on them than on the actual sport.” She pointed out that Brittany Mahomes, married to Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes since March 2022, also contributes to this shift in focus.
While acknowledging Swift’s talent as a singer, Ernestine questioned why her relationship with Kelce has become such a focal point. “She’s not the first celebrity dating an athlete. Yes, she’s larger than life, but it feels overblown,” she remarked.
Skip added his perspective on Kelce’s career trajectory, suggesting that he might be nearing retirement. “It’s smart for Swift to be with him; it enhances her image to be linked with a tough football player,” he said.
Ernestine wasn’t satisfied with this explanation. “Now she’s going to be at every game. I can handle football, but this? I can’t take it,” she expressed her exasperation.
Swift and Kelce have been romantically linked since September 2023, with Swift attending Chiefs games to mixed reactions from fans. During an episode of his podcast “New Heights” in October 2023, Travis commented on the media’s focus on Swift, saying, “It’s fun when they show who’s at the game; it adds to the atmosphere.”
In an interview with TIME later that year, Swift mentioned her unawareness of being on camera during games. “I’m just there to support Travis,” she stated, emphasizing her role as a fan rather than a celebrity.
Travis addressed the mixed reactions to Swift’s presence at games in December 2023. “They went absolutely insane when they showed Taylor on the screen... Most people were cheering for her,” he recalled from the first game she attended.
By August 2025, when Swift appeared on “New Heights,” it was evident that both she and Travis were enjoying the playful banter surrounding her appearances at games. Swift humorously noted, “We all know that if there’s one thing male sports fans want to see in their spaces and on their screens — it’s more of me.”
