What was meant to be a fun night out at the Stanley Cup Finals quickly turned into a swirl of online controversy for Taylor Swift.
The pop superstar made a surprise appearance at Game 4 of the Panthers vs. Oilers series in Florida alongside her boyfriend, NFL star Travis Kelce—but the internet couldn’t stop buzzing about who she was sitting next to.
Sitting Next to Gretzky Sparks Fan Uproar
During the third period of the game, Swift was seen watching the action unfold beside none other than Wayne Gretzky—the hockey icon and known friend of Donald Trump.
For many of Swift’s fans, the sight was shocking and sparked immediate backlash on social media.
“Ugh with a trumpster so disappointed,” one fan posted on X (formerly Twitter), while another added, “Would be great if Taylor Swift could stop associating with Trump supporters actually.
” Some even questioned if the photo was real, asking, “Is this AI?”
Gretzky’s Trump Ties Stir Emotions
Gretzky’s well-documented friendship with Donald Trump has made headlines before—especially in Canada, where many fans view the alliance as troubling.
Trump has previously floated wild ideas like making Canada the 51st U.S. state and has imposed trade tariffs on the country.
Despite that, Gretzky has remained in the former president’s corner and has even been jokingly floated as a future “governor.”
It didn’t help matters that just weeks ago, Trump took a bizarre jab at Swift on Truth Social, claiming that she was “no longer hot” since he said he didn’t like her.
Fans Slam Kelce Brothers for Hosting Gretzky
Adding to the tension, Gretzky recently appeared as a guest on Travis and Jason Kelce’s podcast, New Heights.
Jason enthusiastically introduced him as “the great one,” but not everyone shared the excitement.
Fans were quick to criticize the decision to invite Gretzky on the show so soon after Trump’s unprovoked insult toward Swift.
Comments like “MAGA—really??? Do better!” and “Having maga Gretzky on sucks!” flooded teaser clips of the episode.
Trump’s Jab at Taylor Still Stings
The whole drama is intensified by Trump’s recent outburst targeting Taylor Swift.
During a Truth Social post made while returning from Saudi Arabia, he claimed responsibility for her supposed downfall in popularity: “Has anyone noticed that, since I said ‘I hate Taylor Swift,’ she’s no longer HOT?”
Swift’s fans didn’t take it lightly, and neither did Kelce—though he’s kept his frustration off social media.
Travis Kelce Reportedly Furious, But Staying Quiet
According to insiders, Travis Kelce is livid about Trump’s comments.
One source told DailyMail.com that while Kelce would love to defend Taylor publicly, he’s choosing to stay quiet to avoid fueling the fire.
“He is so mad that he is going to use it as motivation during training for the season ahead,” the insider revealed.
“But keeping quiet is the move he has to do right now.”
When Sports, Politics, and Pop Culture Collide
Swift’s appearance at a major hockey game should’ve been a fun, light-hearted moment.
But in today’s hyper-political world—especially with Trump’s ongoing obsession with her—nothing involving Taylor Swift goes unnoticed.
What was meant to be a night at the rink turned into another reminder that celebrity, politics, and fandom are constantly colliding in the most unexpected ways.