A surprising online feud erupted after the Super Bowl, when Philadelphia Eagles safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson made controversial remarks about Travis Kelce, leading to backlash from Taylor Swift’s fans and unexpected consequences for his mother’s restaurant.
Social Media Controversy
Following the Kansas City Chiefs’ loss, Gardner-Johnson took to X (formerly Twitter) to mock Kelce. He posted:
- “… Swifties gonna be crying to Jason [Kelce] about this.”
- “Honestly respect [Taylor] for not wearing Chiefs gear.”
However, things escalated when he shared an Instagram Story featuring a photo of himself facing off against Kelce on the field, captioned:
- “Should’ve stayed w [sic] that thick shit,” referring to Kelce’s ex-girlfriend Kayla Nicole.
Swifties Retaliate
Upset by his remarks, Swifties and Chiefs fans decided to hit back by targeting King’s Grill, a family restaurant in Rockledge, Florida, owned by Gardner-Johnson’s mother.
The restaurant’s Yelp and Google pages were flooded with negative reviews, with comments like:
- “If I could leave zero stars, I would.”
- “Terrible customer service and average food.”
Some Reddit users even claimed that false ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) reports were being made against Gardner-Johnson’s mother, though these claims remain unverified.
Eagles Fans Defend the Restaurant
As the online attack intensified, Eagles fans stepped in to counter the backlash by leaving positive reviews. The situation became so chaotic that Yelp had to place an ‘Unusual Activity Alert’ on the restaurant’s page, preventing new reviews. Meanwhile, Google reportedly deleted recent reviews, as per the Daily Mail.
Taylor Swift’s Silence Disappoints Fans
Some Swifties were frustrated by Taylor Swift’s lack of response to the situation. One Reddit user expressed their disappointment, stating:
“This isn’t the message she preaches, and while she cannot control other peoples’ lunacy, if she continues to say nothing, why should we believe any progressive stance she ever takes again?”
As the debate rages on, it remains to be seen whether Swift or Kelce will address the controversy.
