Brittany Mahomes has faced criticism recently due to her political affiliations.

The entrepreneur and spouse of Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes drew attention after she appeared to like a social media post by former President Donald Trump last month. While she later unliked the post, it appeared to express support for Trump’s “2024 GOP Platform,” which proposed measures such as border security, excluding “men from women’s sports,” and withholding funding from schools promoting critical race theory.

Now, her close friend Taylor Swift is also under scrutiny. Since Swift began dating Travis Kelce, who is a teammate of Patrick Mahomes, the two women have quickly bonded.

They have been seen together at various events, including dinners, football games, and recently, at the U.S. Open, where they shared a hug during a double date at the men’s singles final.

Despite facing criticism for not taking a stance in the 2024 presidential election, many believe Swift is still aligning herself with her friend’s political views.

While Swift publicly supported President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris during the 2020 election, she has remained silent regarding her position this time. Similarly, Brittany Mahomes has not commented publicly, but her earlier interaction with Trump’s post has been interpreted by some as an endorsement.

The situation has polarized opinions online. Some view Swift as tacitly endorsing Trump’s policies, while others believe it exemplifies that friendships can thrive even amid differing political beliefs.

Why does a single hug elicit such significant attention, and how did these two become embroiled in controversy? Additionally, can friendships survive political disagreements? Experts are reflecting on these questions.

Swift’s typically apolitical stance in her career

Throughout her career, Swift has openly supported three candidates: Phil Bredesen for the 2018 Senate, U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper for re-election in 2018, and Biden in the 2020 presidential election.

Why do people expect Swift, a pop star who typically avoids political discourse, to reveal her personal political views, and why is the public reacting to her hug? Emerson College’s Kristin Lieb argues that this stems from blurred lines between celebrities and their audiences.

“Knowing who someone votes for is a private matter, which is why we have secret ballots,” Lieb stated. She added that “usually, discussing politics or religion is discouraged in casual settings, yet celebrities are often pressured to share their private lives with fans.”

Cultural commentator Aria Halliday echoed Lieb’s sentiments, noting, “We wouldn’t expect people in our daily lives to publicly disclose their personal opinions, so why hold celebrities to a different standard?”

Experts discuss why Swift’s endorsement is highly sought after

Swift has consistently maintained a low profile regarding her personal political views during this election cycle, without endorsing any candidate although Election Day is approaching. Why do her fans, known as “Swifties,” desire clarity on her political stance?

Stephanie Burt, a literary critic teaching a course on Swift at Harvard, attributed this desire for political discourse to the strong emotional connections that fans develop with Swift.

“Many of us hope for a Kamala victory and a Trump defeat, and we believe that her endorsement would contribute to that,” Burt shared, emphasizing that in these one-sided relationships, “we wish for our idols to support our beliefs and actions that matter to us.”

Kristin Lieb shared with YSL News that “people connect with her, especially her determination and the ongoing self-reflection that flows through the song. However, that doesn’t mean she’s opening her home for a dinner party. It might seem that way, but it’s all very deliberately crafted.”

Although Swift hasn’t backed any candidate in this election cycle, there have been subtle indications regarding her opinions on Trump in particular. In August, Trump posted several images on Truth Social that were allegedly generated by AI, suggesting that Swift was supporting his bid for the presidency, even though the singer has expressed her disapproval of the Republican nominee in the past.

Perhaps Swift’s upcoming “era” is about allowing her music—and her earlier statements—to communicate for her.