The Real Reason Taylor Swift Skipped The American Music Awards.

27/5/25

By Mediabuzz

Her absence alone is an easter egg, according to the Swifties.

Taylor Swift's absence from Monday evening's American Music Awards has suitably sent the Swifties into overdrive with hypotheses as to why the star might have chosen to skip the event.

Fans were anticipating Swift's arrival on the red carpet at the event in Las Vegas, but when she didn't show up, they flocked to social media to share their theories as to why.

One user quipped, 'TAYLOR SWIFT HAS ARRIVED AT THE 2025 AMAS RED CARPET #AMAS,' along with a photo of somebody in a snake costume, while another meme read, 'Me waiting for Taylor Swift to show up at the AMAs.'

Swift, who holds the record for the most AMA wins with 40 under her belt, failed to secure any new gongs on Monday but was nominated in six categories for her 11th studio album, The Tortured Poets Department: Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, Favourite Touring Artist, Collaboration of the Year, Favourite Female Pop Artist and Favourite Pop Album.

Fans have deduced that Swift, who was largely believed to be announcing Reputation (Taylor's Version) to the world at the award show, may have missed the ceremony because Swift and her partner, Travis Kelce, are allegedly engaged and are waiting to reveal the news to the world. A sighting of the couple on a dinner date in Florida at the weekend seemed to confirm that, despite a notable lack of public appearances of late, they are still very much together and thriving.

Swift and Kelce are yet to make their first official red carpet debut together, with some fans thinking that it may come at the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards on June 21 instead.

1. No Wins Despite Multiple Nominations

Swift was nominated for six awards, including Artist of the Year and Album of the Year for The Tortured Poets Department, but did not win in any category. Typically, artists are informed in advance if they've won, allowing them to prepare acceptance speeches. Swift's absence, coupled with the lack of a pre-recorded message, suggests she might have known about the outcomes beforehand and chose not to participate.
2. Unrealized Fan Expectations for 'Reputation (Taylor's Version)'

Fans speculated that Swift would announce the re-recording of her album Reputation during the AMAs, especially after her song "Look What You Made Me Do (Taylor’s Version)" featured in a recent episode of The Handmaid’s Tale. Additionally, a 26% discount on her merchandise store led fans to anticipate an announcement on May 26. However, no such announcement was made, leading to disappointment among her followers.

3. Focus on Personal Time

Around the time of the AMAs, Swift was seen dining with her boyfriend, Travis Kelce, in Palm Beach, Florida. This suggests she may have been prioritizing personal time over public appearances. 

4. Recent Shift Toward Virtual Appearances

In recent years, Swift has favored virtual appearances at award shows. For instance, she accepted awards remotely at the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards and the 2024 Billboard Music Awards. Her absence from the AMAs might align with this trend of limiting in-person engagements. 

5. Fan Theories and Speculations

Some fans noted peculiarities during the AMAs broadcast, such as the omission of Swift in the show's introduction and muted audience reactions during her nomination segments. These observations led to theories about potential behind-the-scenes tensions or decisions influencing her absence. 

In summary, while the exact reason for Swift's absence remains unconfirmed, it's likely a combination of her not securing any awards, focusing on personal time, and her recent preference for virtual appearances contributed to her decision to skip the 2025 AMAs.