Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce made it clear that Kanye West has no place on his game-day playlist amid the rapper’s long-running feud with Taylor Swift.
During a media session on Wednesday, February 5, ahead of the Super Bowl, a reporter asked Kelce, 35, “I know you’re dating Taylor, but do you have any Kanye [West] on your hype playlist?”
Without hesitation, the NFL tight end gave a blunt response: “No.”
His answer quickly gained attention, as it directly addressed the ongoing tension between West, 47, and Swift, 35—a feud that dates back more than a decade to the infamous 2009 MTV Video Music Awards, when West interrupted Swift’s acceptance speech.
Swift and West: A Decade-Long Feud
Although West and Swift seemingly reconciled at one point, their public fallout reignited in 2016 after the rapper released the controversial track Famous. The lyrics—“I feel like me and Taylor might still have sex / Why? I made that bitch famous”—sparked outrage, with Swift publicly denouncing the song.
West claimed that Swift approved the lyrics, but her representatives denied it. Matters escalated when Kim Kardashian, West’s then-wife, leaked a phone call where Swift appeared to acknowledge part of the song. However, Swift later clarified that she was unaware West would refer to her as “that bitch.”
In a 2023 interview with Time after being named Person of the Year, Swift admitted that the situation deeply affected her mental health. “My career was taken away from me. It was a fully manufactured frame job,” she said, referencing the leaked call. “That took me down psychologically to a place I’ve never been before.”
Kelce Supports Swift’s Music
While Kelce confirmed that West is absent from his playlist, he has openly praised Swift’s music since they began dating in the summer of 2023.
During a November 2024 episode of his New Heights podcast, Kelce revealed that one of his favorite Swift songs is “Death By a Thousand Cuts.” He admitted that watching Swift’s 2019 NPR Tiny Desk performance helped him appreciate the track even more.
Kelce also expressed his love for “Blank Space,” calling it a song he would “always listen to, forever.”
Despite the public scrutiny surrounding their relationship, Kelce has continued to show support for Swift’s career while maintaining focus on his own. As the Chiefs prepare for the Super Bowl, his music preferences—excluding West—are now making headlines just as much as his performance on the field.
Jaja has a degree in journalism and took classes in international law and business communication. Her career spans roles at prominent international media outlets, including International Business Times, Celebeat and Delightful Philippines. As a news editor, Jaja covered a wide range of beats, including legal, business, economy, cryptocurrency, personal finance, gaming, technology, and entertainment.