ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith defends Taylor Swift against NFL critics: ‘Let’s show some respect’

Stephen A. Smith thinks everyone needs to calm down.

The ESPN commentator is standing by Taylor Swift as NFL fans — and Golden Globes host Joe Koy — continue to criticize her for attending boyfriend Travis Kelce’s football games.

I have to take a moment to come to the defense of Taylor Swift,” Smith said on the Jan. 10 episode of “First Take.” “Everybody is sitting up there and acting like she’s some kind of impediment and, excuse me, she did her job! That Eras Tour? Off the chain.”

“She’s going to support her dude,” the ESPN star, 56, continued. “To show up at a football game and the cameras are on her — that ain’t her fault!”

Smith, who attended one of Swift’s “phenomenal” Eras Tour concerts over the summer, also noted that the 12-time Grammy winner didn’t start going to Kansas City Chiefs games until near the end of her 2023 tour.

And excuse me, by the way, she went to the games after the concerts,” he continued. “It’s not like she used the games to bump up the concerts. Oh no! Those kids were going to her concerts whether the NFL was promoting her or not!”