KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI: With growing speculation surrounding a potential romantic connection between Taylor Swift and Kansas City Chiefs' Travis Kelce, the Native American community is using this opportunity to call for the singer's help.
People are asking for Swift's involvement in ending the controversial use of the Tomahawk chop, a repetitive forward and backward motion of the forearm
Swift was a notable guest at Chiefs vs Chicago Bears game on September 24, occupying a seat in Kelce's family suite alongside his mother, Donna.
Why is the Tomahawk chop offensive?
The Tomahawk chop is criticized for being offensive as it is rooted in racism and symbolizes the enduring impact of settler colonialism on Native American communities.
Following the game, a group of Native Americans, led by Rhonda LeValdo of Not In Our Honor, expressed optimism that Swift's presence could contribute to their ongoing efforts to discourage Chiefs fans from participating in the tomahawk chop gesture during games.
Rhonda LeValdo has been a vocal advocate for discontinuing the Tomahawk Chop celebration and possibly reconsidering the Chiefs' team name.
She shared her hopes, stating, "We remain hopeful that an outside influence like Ms. Swift could be an ally for us in moving the conversation forward on why the chop is a racist act," as conveyed to TMZ Sports.
She further stated, "To us, that hand gesture is synchronized racism. We implore Ms. Swift to take the time to understand our perspective and the scientific and psychological research into the harm to youth and communities caused by such behavior”.
NFL followers have taken to Twitter to convey their thoughts, with some saying, "Some? Who thinks making a mascot out of a race of humans is acceptable these days?"
In response to the controversial tomahawk chop gesture and the use of the Chiefs' name, a coalition of Native American groups has taken action by erecting billboards in the Kansas City area to voice their protest.
The billboards boldly proclaim, 'Change The Name and Stop The Chop!' These billboards serve as a public expression of their stance and a call for change within the sports community.
One user wrote, "What a crock! This degree of wokeism is in overdrive", While another expressed, "Good! Change the name and get rid of that chant. #NotYourMascot #StillHere".
Another user highlighted the gesture's history and said, "The Tomahawk Chop was introduced to the sports world by Florida State football with the BLESSING and APPROVAL of the Seminole Tribe. You Woke Snowflakes need to learn your history and get a life."
Where did the Tomahawk chop chant come from?
According to Sporting News, Tomahawk Chop's origin is unclear, possibly 1980s by FSU Marching Chiefs. FSU Seminoles fans later embraced it.
The tomahawk chop has become a common sight at various sporting events over the past three decades, and Kansas City is no exception, with many fans using this gesture to celebrate Chiefs touchdowns.
The origin of Kansas City's adoption of the tomahawk chop can be traced back to Northwest Missouri State's marching band.
In 1990, this band performed during one of the Chiefs' games, led by Al Sergel, a Florida State graduate.
During the game, the band performed Florida State University's war chant, catching the attention of players and then-Chiefs head coach Marty Schottenheimer. Subsequently, it became a regular feature at Chiefs games as well.
Do the KC Chiefs fans do the tomahawk chop?
As highlighted by Stephen Colbert on his CBS ‘Late Show’ the following night, the football game provided ample entertainment, with one notable exception: the sight of approximately 30,000 people enthusiastically engaging in the tomahawk chop gesture.
Conversely, Randy Essex, an editor at The Detroit Free Press, shared his perspective on the tomahawk chop in an opinion piece published a few days after the significant game.
He reminisced about attending his first NFL game at Kansas City's Arrowhead Stadium, back when "the chop" had not yet become widespread, and later returning with his son.
In his piece titled "Hey, Chiefs, Champions Don't Chop," Essex remarked, "Arrowhead is a ton of fun — until 70,000 Chiefs fans do the chop. I sit on my hands and cringe," underscoring his discomfort with the practice.
However during the game on September 24, Taylor Swift was caught on camera amidst the tomahawk chop celebrations initiated by fans in the stadium but she chose not to partake in the festivities, despite the enthusiastic participation of many around her.
