The world’s most famous Kansas City Chiefs fan will attend the Super Bowl despite having a performance in Tokyo the night before, according to Japan’s US consulate on Friday.
Fans have been wondering for days about how pop music legend Taylor Swift could do it all next weekend: play in Tokyo as part of her record-breaking Eras Tour, and then support star tight end Kelce as the Chiefs face the San Francisco 49ers in Las Vegas.
However, the Japanese embassy in Washington took fast action to reassure the public, disclosing that its workers are also Swift fans who are not afraid to use Swift lyrics in public speeches.
“Despite the 12-hour flight and 17-hour time difference, the Embassy can confidently Speak Now to say that if she departs Tokyo in the evening after her concert, she should comfortably arrive in Las Vegas before the Super Bowl begins,” according to a post on the embassy’s X, formerly Twitter, account.
“We know that many people in Japan are excited to experience Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, so we wanted to confirm that anyone concerned can be Fearless in knowing that this talented performer can wow Japanese audiences and still make it to Las Vegas to support the Chiefs when they take the field for the Super Bowl wearing Red.”
Social media users reacted to the message with both enthusiasm and bemusement.
“Somewhere in Japan’s U.S. embassy, there’s a Swiftie working in comms who had the best day at the office they’ve ever had,” said one of them.
Swift’s appearance would increase the volume at what is already one of the biggest annual events on the US calendar.
She broke industry records this year with her tour, which is expected to gross almost $2 billion, as well as a film of the musical cavalcade. On Sunday, she could shatter the Grammy record for most Album of the Year wins.
In addition to her growing romance with Kelce, she has attended a number of NFL games, bringing new fans to America’s most popular spectator sport as her hundreds of millions of social media followers track her every move.
Fascination peaked this weekend as the Chiefs upset the Baltimore Ravens to go to the Super Bowl, and, among the jubilation, Swift went onto the field to embrace Kelce, who had just played one of his best games.
However, the couple’s global celebrity has sparked right-wing conspiracy theorists, who think their romance is a ruse to rig the Super Bowl and re-elect President Joe Biden.
Swift supported Biden’s successful 2020 presidential campaign, and she used her powers again last September by encouraging fans to register to vote, which tens of thousands of them did.
Kelce has been an unusual target of the right, first for promoting Covid vaccinations and now for dating an even bigger female star.