The pop star has been linked to Kansas City Chiefs player Travis Kelce since 2023, coinciding with her frequent appearances at his games. However, comedian Bill Maher recently took a jab at their relationship, suggesting it has lasted longer than expected, particularly in light of Swift’s past romances.
Taylor Swift Fans React to Maher’s Joke
Many of Taylor Swift’s fans were unimpressed by Maher’s humor and took to social media to criticize the comedian.
Bill Maher’s Joke Targets Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce
During a recent episode of his show Real Time with Bill Maher, the comedian poked fun at Swift’s relationship with Kelce. He began by commenting on former President Donald Trump’s diplomatic approach before shifting focus to Swift.
The world has completely changed. It took Trump three weeks to ‘break up’ with Ukraine, Mexico, and Canada,” Maher joked, adding, “And yet Taylor Swift has had the same boyfriend for over a year.”
Maher also shared a clip of the joke on social media, seemingly unconcerned about potential backlash.
Fans Slam Maher Over His Remarks
After the joke went viral, social media users criticized Maher for his comments. One user wrote, “Taylor Swift ‘humor’ is low-hanging fruit. Boo, Bill. Boo,” while another added, “Bill seems obsessed. Every week, another cheap, unfunny shot.”
Others called out the comedian for targeting Swift’s personal life, with one user commenting, “Mocking a woman’s romantic life is so outdated. It’s 2025, not 1980.”
Another remarked, “The jokes about Taylor’s dating life were creepy when she was a teenager, but now they’re just cringe.”
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce Remain Strong
Despite the attention surrounding their relationship, Swift and Kelce continue to thrive as a couple. Swift has been a regular attendee at Kelce’s games, including last year’s Super Bowl victory and this year’s less fortunate losses. Kelce has also supported Swift during her Eras Tour.
In a 2023 interview with Time magazine, Swift spoke about their public relationship, saying, “When you say a relationship is public, it means I get to see him do what he loves. We show up for each other, other people are there, and we don’t care. The opposite is making extreme efforts to hide.”
She added, “We’re just proud of each other.”
Swift Reveals She and Kelce Started Dating Before Attending Games
Swift also clarified the timeline of her relationship with Kelce, explaining that they started dating after he mentioned her on his New Heights podcast.
“We started dating right after,” Swift revealed. “So we actually had a lot of time before anyone knew, which I’m grateful for because we got to know each other.”
She emphasized that they were already a couple when she attended her first Chiefs game on September 24, 2023, dispelling rumors that it was their first date.
“Before I went to the first game, we were already a couple,” she said. “We would never be crazy enough to start a relationship with a first date.”
Their Romance Boosts NFL’s Profits
The relationship between Swift and Kelce has reportedly brought significant financial gains to the NFL. According to MarketWatch, their romance generated $366.7 million in equivalent brand value for the NFL between September 2023 and January 2024.
From February 2024 to January 2025, the couple’s relationship added an estimated $634.1 million in brand value, bringing the total to nearly $1 billion. The increased ticket sales and merchandise purchases during this period were major contributors to this boost.
Conclusion
While Bill Maher’s jokes about Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce sparked backlash, the couple remains unfazed and continues to support each other in their respective careers. Their relationship has not only captured public interest but also significantly impacted the NFL’s bottom line.
