Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley admits he was confused over the negative reaction pop icon Taylor Swift received when she appeared on the jumbotron during Super Bowl LIX.
The topic came up when Barkley was asked whether he believed Swift and her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, would get engaged.
While he didn’t offer an opinion on that matter, he took the opportunity to defend Swift without being prompted.
“I remember that they showed her on the jumbotron, and she got booed. I don’t get it. I don’t get why she was getting hate there,” Barkley said.
“We’re trying to expand the game, and her being a part of it is only helping it. I don’t get the dislike she’s getting.
“She was there supporting her significant other, and she’s made the game bigger.
Eagles running back Saquon Barkley says he doesn’t understand why Taylor Swift got booed during the Super Bowl:
“I remember that they showed her on the Jumbotron and she got booed. I don’t get it. I don’t get why she was getting hate there. She’s there supporting her significant… pic.twitter.com/uEWn2DV6gM
— Pop Base (@PopBase) February 12, 2025
“In football we’re all about, ‘How can we expand the game and make it more [international]?’ We’re travelling to Brazil, we’re travelling to Mexico. Apparently, we’re travelling to Australia soon.
“We’re trying to expand the game, and her being a part of it is only helping it. I don’t get the dislike she’s getting.”
During the first quarter of the game, Swift was met with boos from the crowd. She appeared visibly surprised, seemingly mouthing, “What’s going on?” in response.
The source of much of the negative reaction likely came from Eagles fans. Despite this, Barkley has been warmly welcomed by the Philadelphia fan base since joining the team from the New York Giants last offseason.
He went on to have a record-breaking season, rushing for an unprecedented 2,476 yards, the highest total ever in a single season, including playoffs.
Reflecting on his experience with Eagles fans, Barkley noted the overwhelming support he has received since his transition to the team.
“They just shower you with love,” he said.
“And it’s been pretty cool for me and my family ’cause kind of how things ended in New York. There was always love and support there, but things didn’t end off on a great note, I guess you could say.
“And to be able to come here and just the way how they’ve taken me in and my family in, and my daughter is the star here. They love my little daughter. So it’s been pretty cool.”
