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Patrick Mahomes has responded to the conspiracy theory that this year's Super Bowl was rigged.
The Kansas City Chiefs' quarterback appeared on CNN on Monday night, following the team's 25-22 win against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.
During an interview, CNN's Abby Phillip asked Mahomes for his thoughts on an unsubstantiated rumor that has been making the rounds online.
Conspiracy theorists are claiming that the Chiefs' victory was "scripted" due to the team's association with Taylor Swift.
Travis Kelce, the Chiefs' tight end, has been dating the singer since last summer, with the pop star's presence at games boosting both ratings and profits for the NFL.
"There were some wild conspiracy theories flying around this season that the Taylor Swift effect was also scripted to allow Taylor to use the Super Bowl for politics," Phillip told Mahomes. "What do you make of just how this has spiraled?"
"It's been wild," the football star replied. "I try to focus it on football just as much as possible, but there's always some conspiracy theories out there.
"I just always try to enjoy football and my family."
Newsweek has reached out to Swift and Kelce for comment via email, and Mahomes via Instagram.
Swift's appearance at Chiefs' games has been very lucrative for the NFL. According to a survey by LendingTree, 13 percent of Americans have an increased interest in football thanks to the 34-year-old singer.
The Grammy winner is particularly influential among millennial and Gen Z women, with some Swifties having watched the Super Bowl for the first time on Sunday.
However, her presence isn't popular among some sports fans. Labeled "Dads, Brads and Chads," these fans complain about the amount of coverage the NFL dedicates to Swift.
The music icon is also vocal about politics, encouraging her followers to vote and supporting progressive causes such as LGBTQ+ rights, racial equality and feminism, which has angered some conservatives.
It has been suggested that Swift's power could even sway the 2024 general election. With the pop legend previously endorsing of Democratic candidates in Tennessee and past criticism of Donald Trump, her influence has enraged Republicans and led to a surge in conspiracy theories.
Kelce's promotional campaign with Pfizer has added fuel to the fire. The 34-year-old partnered with the pharmaceutical company in September, urging people to get their flu shots and COVID-19 boosters at the same time.
The speculation surrounding Swift isn't the only Super Bowl conspiracy theory, with the Chiefs' win sparking another unsupported rumor.
The last time the Chiefs faced the 49ers was also during an election year. The team beat the 49ers in 2020, when Joe Biden and Trump faced off in the general election.
Biden and Trump are likely to land the Democratic and Republican nominations once again in 2024, leading some to believe the election will also turn out in Biden's favor.
About the writer
Sophie is a Newsweek Pop Culture and Entertainment Reporter based in Lincoln, UK. Her focus is reporting on film and ... Read more