When it comes to celebrity appearances at NFL games, the names Simone Biles and Taylor Swift have recently dominated discussions – and it all comes down to one thing: screen time. Earlier this year, Taylor Swift turned heads during the Super Bowl in February when she showed up to cheer on her boyfriend, Travis Kelce, during the Kansas City Chiefs‘ matchup against the San Francisco 49ers.
CBS revealed that Swift snagged 0.36 percent of the Super Bowl TV broadcast, totaling 54 seconds on screen. The reaction from viewers was split, as some NFL fans felt bombarded by the focus on Swift, while others pondered the screen-time gap between her and other celebrity attendees.
This discussion became more pointed when compared to gymnast Simone Biles, a multi-time Olympic gold medalist who also has a significant presence in the NFL world.
Biles, married to NFL player Jonathan Owens, has been a loyal attendee at his games, supporting him from the stands. However, despite her status as a world-renowned athlete, Biles received far less screen time than Swift, even with Owens performing well on the field. This imbalance brought the broadcasting decisions into question.
The conversation reignited recently when Biles returned to Soldier Field to support her husband as the Bears took on the Los Angeles Rams. Yet, once again, despite her high profile and warm presence, Biles saw little airtime compared to Swift.
“Give her the same Taylor swift treatment please @nfl,” a fan said.
Another added: “Why isn’t Simone getting the hype that swift is getting from attending games lol.”
Fans across social media took note, expressing their thoughts on why Biles, who is equally influential in her own right, didn’t receive the same level of camera focus.
Before the Super Bowl this year, it was highlighted that Swift’s on-screen appearances had previously been less than 25 seconds. However, during the Chiefs vs. Dolphins game in January, Swift received a solid one minute and 16 seconds of screen time – significantly more than in earlier appearances.
In contrast, Biles, who often cheers passionately for Owens and is widely celebrated for her achievements, hasn’t experienced the same screen time or media focus during these games.
