The cameo featuring NFL star Travis Kelce in the film Happy Gilmore 2 gained attention after Brandon Alan Smith, the actor playing the bear, revealed he had no knowledge of Kelce’s fame or his relationship with global music superstar Taylor Swift. Smith portrayed the bear in a memorable scene where he unexpectedly confronts a shirtless Kelce, but he confessed that he was completely unaware of the significant cultural crossover surrounding his co-star and Swift.
Smith described his experience during filming as one of “blissful ignorance,” stating,
“I had absolutely no clue I was in the presence of an NFL star, let alone THE Taylor Swift’s boyfriend,”
to TMZ. Despite Smith’s initial lack of awareness, his family quickly recognized the importance of Kelce’s involvement and the tie-in with Swift’s massive fan base.
Behind the scenes: filming multiple versions of the bear encounter
The bear scene became one of the most talked-about moments in the sequel, featuring a chaotic interaction where Kelce, playing himself for the Kansas City Chiefs, is ambushed in a honey-covered state. Smith praised Kelce’s positive attitude on set, describing him as “wonderful” and highlighting the athlete’s enthusiasm and openness to direction despite the unusual nature of the scene.
Smith also shared that several different takes of the encounter were filmed, including a take where the bear displayed tenderness rather than aggression. In that version, the bear character used a large tongue attachment to lick Kelce “all … over.” This variation demonstrated the playful and experimental tone behind the sequence’s production.
Following the release, Smith earned “cool points” with his daughter after Taylor Swift herself commended his performance as “exquisite” during her guest appearance on Travis and Jason Kelce’s New Heights podcast, further amplifying the cultural resonance of the collaboration.
Is Taylor Swift hinting at a Super Bowl halftime show appearance?
Meanwhile, speculation continues to swirl that Taylor Swift could headline the Super Bowl 60 halftime show at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara next year. Fans have closely analyzed her recent appearance on the Kelce brothers’ New Heights podcast, believing that she may have left subtle clues signaling her involvement.
One particular detail that caught the attention of Swift’s fans, known as Swifties, was her repeated reference to the number 47, which they connected to her 47th Eras Tour concert held at Levi’s Stadium—the scheduled location for the Super Bowl 60 game. Additionally, Swift mentioned thinking about sourdough “60 percent of the time,” which listeners interpreted as a playful nod to both Super Bowl 60 and the San Francisco 49ers’ mascot, Sourdough Sam.
Other signals fan theories point to include the orange color theme on Swift’s forthcoming album cover, seen as a reference to California’s Orange County and, intriguingly, matching the combined red and yellow colors of the Kansas City Chiefs’ uniform, which blend into orange. Her decision to make this reveal on a football-related podcast has further intensified speculation.
Implications of the cameo and potential Super Bowl connection
The unexpected bear cameo in Happy Gilmore 2, paired with the growing buzz around Taylor Swift’s possible Super Bowl halftime show, highlights the increasing crossover between entertainment, sports, and music industries. Brandon Alan Smith’s candid admission about his ignorance of the Kelce-Swift connection offers a glimpse into how layered and interconnected today’s pop culture moments can be, even for those directly involved in their creation.
If Swift does perform at Super Bowl 60, the event would mark another landmark instance of her blending musical spectacle with major sporting occasions, much like Travis Kelce’s transition from NFL star to a mainstream entertainment figure. These developments could set the stage for further collaborations and media moments that captivate a wide audience next year at Levi’s Stadium.