Taylor Swift Champions Breezy Johnson's Olympic Engagement Amid Controversy
Pop superstar Taylor Swift has robustly defended Team USA skier Breezy Johnson against critics of her recent engagement, which took place at the finish line in Cortina, Italy, on Thursday. The Winter Olympic downhill champion, aged 30, will be departing Italy with both a gold medal and a new engagement ring after her longtime partner, Connor Watkins, proposed following the women's super-G final.
Romantic Proposal Sparks Mixed Reactions
The proposal on the slopes of Cortina ignited significant controversy, as the romantic moment occurred after Johnson's disappointing performance in the event, where she crashed and failed to secure a podium position for the second time. However, Taylor Swift, who celebrated her own engagement to NFL star Travis Kelce last August, extended nothing but warm wishes to the happy couple.
"Where’s the trophy? He just comes running over to me" CONGRATULATIONS!!!, the 14-time Grammy Award winner wrote in the comment section of Johnson's Instagram post, cleverly referencing her own hit song, The Alchemy, from her 2024 album, The Tortured Poets Department.
Johnson enthusiastically replied, "I don't know what's better, Olympic gold or this comment. Sourdough engagement gift please???? would love to teach you to ski."
Social Media Backlash and Swift's Support
The American athlete had shared a series of photos capturing the romantic proposal, including images of her new fiancé down on one knee. In one notable snapshot, Johnson displayed her new bling alongside the ring box, which was inscribed with lyrics from Swift's song, reading, "Honestly, who are we to fight the alchemy?"
Johnson captioned the post: "Hey guys... meet Connor! My ex boyfriend! And current fiancé!!! Thank you to everyone who made this moment possible. It was everything I ever dreamed of. Kind of like Connor!"
While the comment section overflowed with congratulatory messages echoing Swift's sweet felicitations, others expressed strong disapproval, arguing that the proposal detracted from Johnson's athletic achievements.
- One social media user posted on X: "I’m happy for Breezy Johnson but I have strong opinions about men hijacking a woman’s major milestones to propose. Just let HER have that moment dude! Now she’s on national tv talking about her relationship instead of her athleticism. Not cool."
- Another claimed: "Only a narcissist would try to make your day about them."
- A third fumed: "Terrible!! Let the woman have her Olympics. This is a red flag."
- A fourth wrote: "Romantic timing or massive pressure move? Proposing right after she crashes (even if she got up) feels like turning her vulnerable moment into a public spectacle. Congrats to them, but I'd hate the added spotlight when I'm already emotionally raw from a [Did Not Finish]. Thoughts?"
Johnson's Dream Engagement and Personal Journey
Despite the online criticism, the proposal was perfect for the skier, who had previously revealed that the Winter Olympics was her dream setting for an engagement. She admitted to having a feeling Watkins would propose after confessing it was her "dream" to get engaged at the Olympics, ideally after winning a gold medal.
"I mean, that was my hope!" she said, via NBC News. "But it's definitely a lot more crazy with everything just happening all at once, and the reality of it is so different than the way you imagined, and so much better."
The couple now plans to spend Thursday celebrating with family and friends in Cortina before heading to Livigno, the site of other Olympic competitions.
Athletic Achievements and Personal Identity
While Johnson did not secure a medal in the women's super-G, she joined Lindsey Vonn as the only American female to win the women's downhill on Sunday, capturing her first-ever Olympic gold medal. She then missed the chance to land a second medal in the team combined event on Tuesday before crashing out of the super-G on Thursday.
Back in 2022, Johnson came out as bisexual, posting on social media that she "wanted to be open about who I am." She wrote on Instagram: "To those [LGBTQ+] people out there who feel a little different and want to see people like them at the top I am here to represent that we are out there, we are normal, and we can do whatever we want. To the trolls who want to hate, hate doesn't beat love. To those who have no idea what I'm saying, head over to Google if ya want to know."
Taylor Swift's supportive comment has significantly amplified positive attention toward Johnson's engagement, highlighting a celebratory moment amidst the competitive pressures of the Olympic Games.
