Microexpressions expert decodes Taylor Swift’s reaction to being booed at Super Bowl
A whole lot went down during Sunday's Super Bowl which saw the Philadelphia Eagles take home the victory over the Kansas City Chiefs with a 40 - 22 win.
Taylor Swift could be seen in the stands supporting her boyfriend, Chiefs star Travis Kelce, before, at one point during the game, she got booed by the crowd.
However, the 35-year-old 'Karma' singer seemed to take it on the chin, handling the seriously awkward situation pretty well. But now, a microexpressions expert has given her theory on how the singer really felt during the ordeal.
Annie Särnblad took to Instagram earlier today (10 February) to share her verdict on Taylor's response.
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She explained: "We human beings widen our eye aperture when we are afraid or surprised. I'm going to let you decide which one she's feeling.
"So fear pulls back the upper eyelids hard and surprise tends to open them up a little bit softer."
Annie continued: "Fear is going to give a straight eyebrow that lifts up straight over the forehead, and surprise often gives you more of a curve on the eyebrow."
Urging viewers to pay attention to the 'vulnerability on her chin' as she 'squeezes and puckers her chin', the expert added: "And I feel like there's even just a little lift of the squeezing of the skin next to the nose and a deepening of the nasal labial furrow, which we see in disgust, or in this case, discomfort."
"We then see Taylor Swift smile. This happy expression is clearly on purpose. It is conscious, and she is smiling despite the booing, because, hey, her team and her man are at the Super Bowl, and so is she," Annie finished up.
Why was Taylor Swift booed at the Super Bowl?
NFL fans have previously expressed their frustration at Swift attending Chiefs games, claiming the attention she inevitably gets often takes away from the sport itself.
But many people reckon that this time the adverse reaction may have been down to something else entirely.
Sharing their theory, one tweeted: "Everyone right now 'the crowd boos Taylor swift!!?' Guys.. the crowd is 80% eagles fans. Of course they booed Taylor.
"Don’t worry, our girl is loved deeply, and she knows it.
Swifties all over have since rushed in to support Taylor following the booing incident, with one writing: "God forbid a woman watches sport AND SUPPORTS HER BOYFRIEND??? Tf."
"She handled that with real class. A true queen," praised a second, while a third penned: "Notice how she didn’t care?? This is embarrassing, boys."
A fourth hit out: "What do they think they accomplished? Like she doesn't seem to even care about them. Unbothered queen."
"I think they need to calm down…" quipped another.
And a final social media user added: "Look, I'm not a fan of Taylor at all and I find it weird that they always focus on her during games.. but... she isn't controlling the camera.
"She has just as much right to be there as everyone else."
Topics: Sport, Taylor Swift, Celebrity, Travis Kelce, Super Bowl
Rhiannon Ingle