What’s up guys, it’s Sussan Mourad with Clevver News, and it seems the power of Taylor
Swift became too much for some L.A. Kings fans, as they’ve officially had her Staples
Center banner removed over fears of it “jinxing” their winning streak.
If you thought musical fandoms were a lot to handle, let’s just say the dedication
of a diehard sports fan is NO match… like, not even close.
Case in point, just over a year after L.A. Kings hockey fans began complaining that Taylor
Swift’s Staples Center banner was a jinx, the major achievement emblem has officially
been removed from the venue’s walls.
In case you forgot, last year, we reported that L.A. hockey fans began complaining that
Taylor’s banner that read, “Taylor Swift -- Most Sold Out Performances” was a curse
against the King’s previous winning streak.
The banner was special for a multitude of reasons, one being the fact that Taylor was
given this award during one of her 1989 tour stops after selling out 16 straight shows
at the Staples Center in 2015.
The most special part about this award, however, was that it was gifted to her by the late
Kobe Bryant, who had won quite a few championships himself in the very same arena.
He ended up surprising her during her show and presented her with the banner, saying
QUOTE, “On behalf of all of your fans here in Los Angeles, it is my honor to reveal for
the first time your own championship banner.”
A completely shocked Taylor responded back saying, “I just thought he was going to
come out and wave to the crowd, this is an amazing surprise, thank you.”
But apparently this honor subsequently wasn’t appreciated by many Kings fans, who complained
that it was allegedly jinxing their team after having won the Stanley Cup in 2012 and 2014,
and advancing to the semifinals in 2013.
Last year around the time that complaints began rolling in, Kings’ VP of Marketing
issued a statement to the LA Times saying, “The connection to our fans is our highest
priority and through our engagement, they have made it clear that the banner shouldn’t
be part of their Kings game experience.
We didn’t see an issue in covering it for our games and in fact see it as an opportunity
to show our fans that we hear them.”
The banner was then covered before last year’s home opener against the Nashville Predators,
in which they actually won, but ended up losing their second home game against the Vegas Golden
Knights, soooo we’re not so sure a banner has much to do with a winning streak.. but
to each their own.
Although the Los Angeles Lakers didn’t appear bothered by the sign, TMZ reported last year
that the LA Clippers also covered the banner during home games, so it seems the superstition
was widely known in the sports world.
But it seems the Kings’ repeated losing streak has only caused fans’ superstitions
to grow, as the banner has now been completely removed from the walls of the iconic arena.
Just yesterday, sports writer Arash Markazi tweeted a photo of the Staples Center with
no banner in sight, noting that it “looks like” it had been removed.
Although there is currently no official word from entertainment company AEG on the whereabouts
of the banner, the walls of the Staples Center have officially been stripped of all signs
of Swift.
Many fans took to Twitter to express how ridiculous it is to take down a banner that they believe
had nothing to do with the players’ performance.
One user tweeted, “This team continues to complain about how they can’t win games
by blaming a successful woman who has nothing to do with their failure.
I think this team better get some more practice in instead playing the blame game.”
Others feel this move was completely disrespectful to Kobe as he presented Taylor with this major
accomplishment.
This person wrote, “The disrespect.
Kobe didn't come to Taylor's tour and gift her the banner which she deserved so much
just for it to be removed.
I know Tayvoodoo will come for the LA Kings hockey team and give them more curse.”
And this person put it plain and simple, writing, “I hope LA kings lose every game from now
on.”
Ouch!
Watch out y’all, as fans see it, Tayvoodoo is officially out for blood…
And to see what Taylor had to say about the reason she and Joe Alwyn bonded over songwriting,
click right over here to watch another Clevver video.
Then be sure to let me know all your thoughts on this “Taylor Swift curse” down here
in the comments, and if you think Kings fans are being a liiiittle extra in having the
banner removed.
I’m your host Sussan Mourad, you can find me on Instagram @Sussan_Mourad, bye guys!