CULTURE

Footer Column 2

Footer Legal

Footer Main

Nav Bar

OTHER

SPORTS

Subscribe, at any level, to play

Thanks for your interest in Defector Crosswords!

Become a subscriber today to get unlimited access

Thanks for reading!

Plans start at $8/month.

Subscribers enjoy unlimited, ad-free browsing.

Register to continue

Or click here to subscribe for unlimited, ad-free access!

Our gift to you: This year's post is unlocked. Register your email to get even more free articles.

Welcome to the 2025 Hater's Guide!

Just register your email:

This blog is free to read.

This is Defector, a new sports blog and media company. We made this place together, we own it together, we run it together. Without access, without favor, without discretion, and without interference.

Defector

<p>Columnist. Author of many <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Drew-Magary/e/B001JS8R52/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1">fine works of literature</a>, including <em>Point B</em>. Handsomest man in the world.</p>


Drew Magary

Life's Rich Pageant

Only A Complete Asshole Would Get Married At Madison Square Garden

Becca Young

Arts And Culture

Maggie Nelson Sputters And Stalls In ‘The Slicks’

Kelsey McKinney

Taylor Swift on the red carpet wearing a red dress with winged eyeliner and looking out of the corner of her eye at the camera

No Good Art Comes From Greed


<p>Dan McQuade was a founding member of Defector. He died in January 2026.</p>


Dan McQuade

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - FEBRUARY 09: Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs is sacked by Jalen Carter #98 of the Philadelphia Eagles during Super Bowl LIX at Caesars Superdome on February 09, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Eagles defeated the Chiefs 40-22.

Why Your Team Sucks

Why Your Team Sucks 2025: Kansas City Chiefs

taylor swift and travis kelce at the 2024 US. Open. He is wearing a stupid hat and looking at her lovingly.

Travis Kelce Sufficiently Recovered From Humiliating Super Bowl Loss To Propose

<p>Bobby Finger is the co-host of Who? Weekly and the author of the novels <i>The Old Place</i> and <i>Four Squares</i>. His third novel will be released next summer.</p>


Bobby Finger

Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift talk on a podcast.

Mods Asleep

Two Showgirls In Love: Travis Kelce And Taylor Swift Have A Chat

Lauren Theisen

Taylor Swift performs onstage during "Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour"

Taylor Swift Turned Me Straight

Alex Sujong Laughlin


<p>charismatic megafauna (they/them)</p>


Sabrina Imbler

Drew 'Gonzo' Gonville is at the bottom of the steps of a private jet, dressed in a Santa suit. The beard is pulled down. Bowyn Sykes is dressed in a sleeveless sweater top and a kilt-like skirt. She is on the top step of the airstairs into the private jet. They are looking at each other.

Defector Watches A Christmas Movie: ‘Christmas In The Spotlight’

<p>David Gardner is a writer based in New York. His work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, GQ, The Ringer, and other outlets.</p>


David Gardner


<p>Diana Moskovitz is Defector&#8217;s investigations editor. You can contact her at diana@defector.com or dfmoskovitz@protonmail.com. She&#8217;s also on Signal @dmoskovitz.99</p>


Diana Moskovitz

Taylor Swift performs onstage for night one of Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on July 07, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri.

Capital

How Public Stadiums Keep Some Profits Private

The words "girl's girl" appear in the Charli XCX Brat font, on a Brat-green background.

Charli XCX, Lorde, And The Trap Of The “Girl’s Girl”

<p><i><span style="font-weight: 400">Dan Brooks writes essays and fiction from Missoula, Montana.</span></i></p>


Dan Brooks

Taylor Swift performs onstage during the Taylor Swift reputation Stadium Tour at MetLife Stadium on July 21, 2018 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Culture Needs More Jerks

Israel Daramola

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (C L) hugs teammate tight end Travis Kelce (C) as they celebrate with teammates during the Chiefs' Super Bowl LVIII victory parade on February 14, 2024, in Kansas City, Missouri.

Make The Chiefs The Official Team Of The Culture War

Patrick Redford

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - JANUARY 28: Travis Kelce #87 of the Kansas City Chiefs (L) celebrates with Taylor Swift after defeating the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Championship Game at M&amp;T Bank Stadium on January 28, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

Republicans Struggle To Comprehend Nation’s Interest In NFL All-Pro And Taylor Swift

Ray Ratto

An exterior view shows signage for Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium on January 30, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The game will be played on February 11, 2024, between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers.

Super Bowl Day 3: Too Stupid, Too Early

ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 21: 1 #87 of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates after scoring a 22 yard touchdown against the Buffalo Bills during the second quarter in the AFC Divisional Playoff game at Highmark Stadium on January 21, 2024 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

The Chiefs Are The NFL’s Traveling Circus

There’s So Little To Say About Taylor Swift Being Person Of The Year

Luis Paez-Pumar

<div id="message-list_1773066846.655809">
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>Abigail Segel is a contributing writer at Defector. She is also an editor for The IX Soccer and the Equalizer. Her work has been published in the Guardian and the Montreal Gazette.</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>


Abigail Segel

Singer-songwriter Taylor Swift performs onstage during Taylor Swift The 1989 World Tour Live In Los Angeles at Staples Center on August 22, 2015 in Los Angeles, California.

Music

Meet Us At Midnight For ‘1989’ (Defector’s Version)

A black and white illustration of turpentine resin harvesting.

Into The Woods

Where Are We Vis-À-Vis The Woods? An Investigation

Sportscaster Jim Gray, Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady and Las Vegas Raiders owner and managing general partner and Las Vegas Aces owner Mark Davis watch players warm up during halftime of a game between the Connecticut Sun and the Aces

Tom Brady’s Minority Ownership Deal Could Use Some Competition

Singer Taylor Swift and Actor Ryan Reynolds talk prior to the game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on October 01, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

The NFL Belongs To Taylor Swift Now

David Roth

Taylor Swift watching the Kansas City Chiefs game on Monday night in a luxury box with Travis Kelce's mother, Donna.

Podcasts

Pinning Your Ears Back For Taylor Swift, With Giri Nathan And Samer Kalaf

Samer Kalaf

Taylor Swift gives the thumbs-up while watching the Chiefs.

Football Game Played Near Taylor Swift

Tom Ley

Head coach Sean Payton of the Denver Broncos talks to Russell Wilson #3 of the Denver Broncos prior to a game against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on September 24, 2023 in Miami Gardens, Florida.

The Game Of The Year Is In Six Days

A July 17 photo of Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA, during the 'Fearless' set.

You Must Understand That Taylor Swift Knows Me Better Than Anyone Else On Earth

The Blue Ridge Parkway passes through the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina, USA, circa 1970. (Photo by Archive Photos/Getty Images)

taylor swift