NFL superstar Travis Kelce is no stranger to making headlines, but his latest revelation about his girlfriend, pop icon Taylor Swift, is generating buzz for a different reason.
In a candid new interview, the Kansas City Chiefs’ tight end opened up about Swift’s little-known fear of the dark, a phobia rooted in a childhood experience, and how he supports her through it.
“Taylor’s always been this confident, fearless woman on stage in front of thousands of fans,” Kelce shared. “But behind closed doors, there’s a side of her that not a lot of people know about.”
The 34-year-old football player went on to reveal that his 33-year-old partner’s fear of the dark stems from a traumatic incident during a camping trip when she was just nine years old.
“She was sleeping in the tent one night and heard a strange noise outside,” Kelce recounted. “Taylor thought it was some kind of bear or mountain lion, so she started screaming. Her dad had to calm her down and assure her it was just a raccoon or something equally harmless.” Since that night, the “Anti-Hero” singer has had a deep-seated fear of being in complete darkness.
Kelce, who has been dating Swift for over a year, said he does his best to provide comfort when she starts to feel anxious about the dark. “I’ll usually just pull her close and tell her everything’s okay,” he explained. “Sometimes I’ll even let her sleep with the bathroom light on so she doesn’t have to be in complete darkness.”
Despite her tough, no-nonsense public persona, Swift’s fear can surface even at glamorous events. “We’ll be at some fancy party or red carpet event, and the lights will dim for whatever reason,” Kelce laughed. “Instantly, I can see the panic wash over Taylor’s face. She’ll give me this wide-eyed look and mouth the words, ‘Get me out of here.’”
Kelce finds Swift’s fear endearing and is happy to be there for her when she needs extra comfort. “Taylor’s been through so much in her life, from intense fame and scrutiny to some pretty awful relationships,” he said. “I’m just glad I can be the person she feels safe and secure with, even when the lights go out.”
The couple has even developed a few light-hearted nighttime rituals to help Swift feel more at ease. “If we’re staying in a hotel, the first thing Taylor does is check every single closet and corner to make sure there’s no one hiding in the darkness,” Kelce chuckled. “And before we go to sleep, she has to have the bathroom door cracked open just a tiny bit so there’s a sliver of light coming through.”
Kelce acknowledges that Swift’s fear might seem irrational to some, but he understands how real it is for her. “A lot of people might think it’s silly or childish, but this is a genuine phobia for Taylor,” he explained. “It’s not something she can just get over, so I do whatever I can to make her feel safe and comfortable because, at the end of the day, that’s what matters most to me.”
Kelce’s heartwarming comments about Swift’s nighttime anxiety have quickly gone viral, with fans praising the football star for his patience and understanding. “The way Travis talks about Taylor’s fear of the dark is so sweet and supportive,” one Twitter user wrote. “You can tell he really loves her and wants to make her feel safe,” commented another.
Despite their individual successes and fame, it’s clear that Kelce and Swift have built a strong, loving partnership based on mutual respect and understanding. And if Swift ever decides to write a song about her fear of the dark, she just might have the perfect co-writer in her NFL boyfriend.