A body language specialist has shared insights on Taylor Swift’s reaction to being jeered at the Super Bowl on Sunday (February 9).
The event saw many high-profile attendees, including President Donald Trump, in a historic appearance for a sitting president, as the Philadelphia Eagles overwhelmed the Kansas City Chiefs in New Orleans.
Taylor Swift was present to support her boyfriend Travis Kelce and his team, the Chiefs.
When the cameras focused on the ‘Shake It Off’ musician, displaying her on the large screen, a considerable segment of the 75,000-strong audience began to boo.
Despite the fact that she was simply enjoying the event, speculation about why Swift was booed circulated online, with Trump quickly adding to the situation through a post on Truth Social.
Swift seemed to question the events by mouthing ‘What is going on?’ to her friend and rapper Ice Spice, who was seated next to her during the game.
Various celebrities swiftly defended her, and now, Darren Stanton, a body language analyst speaking for Slingo, has offered his interpretation of Swift’s reaction to the booing.
Stanton explained: “At the moment the audience starts booing, Taylor’s eyes widen. She initially shows a mix of shock, disbelief, and embarrassment.
“She attempts to laugh it off, but it’s evident it has caught her off guard and affected her. Ice Spice uses a shushing gesture, intending to quiet the crowd, as she is aware of Taylor’s discomfort and feels embarrassed for her. Ice Spice then looks at Taylor to gauge her reaction to the booing.”
The expert further noted: “We then see Ice Spice lowering her head, indicating she feels ashamed, as she is mortified for Taylor. She’s attempting to assist her in moving past the uncomfortable incident as swiftly as possible.
“Taylor is displaying what appears to be a forced smile. This is a masking gesture. Despite the brief interaction, she exhibits a broad masking smile. These are genuine reactions from Taylor, showing real emotions and her embarrassment.”
Stanton also commented on how Swift’s demeanor suggested her feelings about the booing: “Taylor is pulling her chin in, a sign of wanting to appear smaller physically, reflecting her distress over the boos.
“She understands the crowd’s focus isn’t on her, but this reaction wasn’t what she anticipated. The gesture is indicative of internal discomfort, often used to feel less exposed.
“Confident individuals often show gestures like hands on hips and feet apart. However, when we wish to ‘disappear,’ we tend to make ourselves smaller.”