Arnold Schwarzenegger praises Taylor Swift's 'celebrity power' for bringing 'a different audience' to the NFL

In an interview with Yahoo Entertainment, Arnold Schwarzenegger lauds the "extraordinary" Taylor Swift.

Image of Arnold Schwarzenegger next to one of Taylor Swift.
Arnold Schwarzenegger weighs in on Taylor Swift's impact to NFL ahead of Super Bowl Sunday. (Photo illustration: Yahoo News; photos: Neilson Barnard/Getty Images,Todd Owyoung/NBC via Getty Images)
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Arnold Schwarzenegger is not one of those "dads, Brads and Chads" who has a problem with Taylor Swift's foray into the NFL this year. In fact, The Terminator star says what she's brought the sport is "amazing."

While discussing his State Farm Super Bowl commercial, Schwarzenegger tells Yahoo Entertainment he's impressed with how big football has become all over the world, citing the NFL's recent push into Europe and Mexico. Although that was happening years before Swift started dating Travis Kelce, the actor acknowledges the added star power she brought this season.

"Football itself draws the hugest crowd because it's the most popular sport. But then to have someone like her be there and watch the game adds another kind of a thing that [attracts] a different audience," he explains. "Especially younger girls are now more into football, they know the rules and all of that stuff, so it's really amazing."

There's no question 2023 was Swift's biggest year to date, and given her recent announcement that a new album is coming, things aren't slowing down for her in 2024. Now a 14-time Grammy winner, is there anything Swift can't do? Given Schwarzenegger's unique perspective as a major star who's well-versed in politics, Yahoo asks if he thinks Swift could ever be president.

"That I don't know," he replies. "Celebrity power is very important when you run for office. I've seen that when I ran for governor, but you have to have the right mind for it ... that all comes out when you do the debates and when you do the interviews. So I don't know that side of her at all. I just know her as being the most extraordinary performer, this very attractive woman, very talented, very, very smart. But I don't know [if the political side] of her exists or if she has any interest in that."

As for Schwarzenegger, he can be seen in State Farm's new action "movie" between the 1st and 2nd quarter.

"I don't like to just do any commercial. The money's great, but I have plenty of money, so I'm not worried about that. It has to be organic," he explains. "This one was organic because State Farm is kind of in your neighborhood. It takes care of the community and this is what my life is all about."

Swift is expected at the big game on Sunday, where the Kansas City Chiefs will take on the San Francisco 49ers. Here's how you can watch.