Super Bowl 58 and the Spread of Conspiracy Theories

Sportswriters have been looking ahead to the forthcoming Super Bowl LVIII and the narratives that will dominate in the run up to the game. One of the strongest is the idea that quarterback Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs and Travis Kelce, his tight end, are in a relationship, with pop star Taylor Swift, which was enhanced by their public displays of affection on the field after their victory in the AFC Championship Game, and that this will have an impact on the game, with many speculating that the Chiefs are "artificially culturally propped up". Another narrative is that the San Francisco 49ers' quarterback, Brock Purdy, is merely a "game manager" and will not be able to outperform Mahomes. The game takes place on 11 February, at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.