“He was taking notes … we should’ve known,” one fan theorized after the NFL star performed with his superstar girlfriend
Forty-two days before Travis Kelce stunned Swifties on Sunday, June 23, by performing onstage with Taylor Swift at the Eras Tour, he was spotted using his phone’s camera to record the concert skit he would eventually star in.
On May 12, Kelce, 34, was caught with his camera flash on at the fourth Eras Tour show in Paris recording Swift, 34, as she transitioned from “The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived” to “I Can Do It with a Broken Heart,” which involves a playful skit and an onstage outfit change.
People are now connecting the dots and theorizing that Swift’s NFL boyfriend — like a smart football player who reviews game footage to get better — was capturing concert footage to get ready for his future performance that no one else knew about at the time.
“He was taking notes … we should’ve known,” one fan on X (formerly Twitter) wrote after Kelce’s surprise cameo, while another fan said, “Bro watched that video over and over again to learn the choreography.”
Related: Taylor Swift Says She’s ‘Still Cracking Up/Swooning’ over Travis Kelce’s Eras Tour Debut in London
The Kansas City Chiefs tight end previously commented about the moment he was spotted recording his superstar girlfriend after his brother Jason Kelce poked fun at him on their New Heights podcast.
“Well, you got caught, pulling an Ed Kelce move here taking a video with your flash on,” Jason, 36, said, referring to their dad. “What are you doing, Trav? You’re supposed to be better than this.”
Travis replied, “Oh, you know, the settings on the camera, if it’s dark, it’s going to automatically put the flash on. I was just trying to get some good, you know, some good video, some good memories. I don’t give a damn.”
travis kelce recording with the FLASH ON! during icdiwabh #TheErasTour #theerastourparis 😭 pic.twitter.com/IjOiVZisgl
— noémie 𝝑𝝔 (@TAEHYNlST) May 12, 2024
Jason responded, “You probably got great video — the flash makes a big difference,” before Travis asked, “Did I get clowned for that? Sorry.”
Flash-forward to the June 23 show in London: Travis made his surprise appearance during the exact moment he recorded on May 12.
In footage captured by PEOPLE at the London concert, Travis rises onto the stage from a stage door with Kameron Saunders and Jan Ravnik, who are the usual backup dancers for this part of the show.
🎩 SURPRISE! Travis Kelce came onstage and carried Taylor Swift during her outfit change skit for “I Can Do It With a Broken Heart” #LondonTSTheErasTour
🎥: @PEOPLE’s @Kirsty_Hatcher pic.twitter.com/5KadoRpl52
— Brian A. Hernandez (@BAHjournalist) June 23, 2024
During this dramatic transition, the 14-time Grammy winner is lying on the stage floor at the end of “The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived,” which is speculated to be about ex Matty Healy.
This is when Travis symbolically picked up the heartbroken performer off the stage and carried her to a couch area for her outfit change. Swift, still in performance mode, then begrudgingly changed clothes, while Travis and the two dancers tried to hype her out of her fictitious funk.
As the crowd wildly cheers, Swift started “I Can Do It with a Broken Heart.”
