Super Bowl LIX was filled with surprises.
On the field, the Philadelphia Eagles steamrolled their way to a Lombardi Trophy, forcing several turnovers from Patrick Mahomes en route to a 40-22 win that never felt that close.
Off the field, one of the more surprising moments was when the camera panned to global icon Taylor Swift, in attendance to watch partner Travis Kelce as the Kansas City Chiefs looked to win their third straight Super Bowl, and the crowd at Caesars Superdome booed heavily.
While the moment allowed Swift to recreate one of social media’s great memes accidentally, it opened the door to some questions. Were the boos coming from a heavily pro-Eagles crowd at the game? A result of “Swift fatigue?” Something else entirely?
Whatever the reason, one person on the field Sunday night had some questions of their own.
Eagles running back Saquon Barkley.
Speaking on The Howard Stern Show Wednesday, Barkley questioned the “hate” Swift received on Sunday night.
“I remember that they showed her on the jumbotron, and she got booed. I don’t get it. I don’t get why she was getting hate there,” began Barkley.
The running back then credited Swift for helping to grow the game.
“She was there supporting her significant other, and she’s made the game bigger,” Barkley said. “In football we’re all about, ‘How can we expand the game and make it more [international]?’ We’re traveling to Brazil, we’re traveling to Mexico. Apparently, we’re traveling to Australia soon. We’re trying to expand the game, and her being a part of it is only helping it. I don’t get the dislike she’s getting.”
During his appearance on The Howard Stern Show Barkley also discussed how he almost quit football when he was younger, but was talked out of walking away from the sport by his parents.
Eagles fans are certainly thankful for that as well.
