Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce cosy up in new Patient Zero footage

By BRIAN MARKS, US ASSISTANT SHOWBUSINESS EDITOR and CARLY JOHNSON, US ASSISTANT SHOWBIZ EDITOR

Published: 08:36 EDT, 14 October 2026 | Updated: 08:36 EDT, 14 October 2026

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce showed off their affectionate side in newly released behind-the-scenes footage from the set of her recent music video for Patient Zero. Swift, 36, appeared in footage with her new husband, 37, and her music video costars Dakota Johnson, 37, and Colin Farrell, 50, in a new video released Tuesday by Spotify. The new footage, which was subtitled So Let’s Get into It, featured clips of the hitmaker chatting in bed with Johnson and cracking up the 50 Shades of Grey star while on camera. Kelce made a brief scene-stealing appearance in which he appeared to soothe his wife, with the video released on the same day as the NFL star was slammed for liking a post on SNL star Shane Gillis’ ‘misogynistic’ monologue. Swift was seen sitting in a director’s chair, while the Kansas City Chiefs tight end stood behind her and beamed as he gently embraced her. Johnson, who shared a laugh with Kelce, was dressed in an identical cream-colored sweater as Swift, while her husband was decked out in a ribbed white short-sleeve sweater with a black-and-white checker print running across it.

The bearded NFL star also wore a brown baseball cap and a luxury wristwatch. The Patient Zero behind-the-scenes footage emphasized Swift’s camaraderie with her friend and costar Johnson, but also showed the original video’s villain in a new light. Farrell was seen smiling and conversing with Swift and Johnson between takes, which contrasted with the alternating scenes of intense screaming and passionate kissing on screen. The new footage also featured behind-the-scenes clips from a gala scene featuring Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, who won the NFL’s MVP award last year, and Cara Delevingne.

Although the Patient Zero update revealed the inner workings of the shoot, it didn’t provide much clarity on speculation from fans who believe the song and video are inspired by Swift’s former relationship with actor Joe Alwyn. Fans noticed recurring props, including a long dining table, that previously appeared in music videos and on her Eras tour in sequences that appeared to allude to her relationship with Alwyn. Eagle-eyed fans also noted that Swift donned a dress in the gala scene that she had previously worn to the 2019 BAFTAs afterparty, at which she supported Alwyn.

A tombstone glimpsed at the end of the original video, which reveals that Swift’s character had been killed by her husband Farrell, was also alleged to have been an allusion to her former relationship. Swift debuted the racy star-studded music video during the MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles last month. The superstar directed and penned the script for the video, which features a slew of dramatic scenes, including countless hot and heavy moments between Johnson and Farrell, who play a couple in a rocky romance, as well as a forbidden kiss between Farrell and model Cara Delevingne, who plays the ‘other woman.’

Swift also acts in the video as the late wife of Farrell’s character who comes back from the dead to warn Johnson’s character of his toxic ways. Swift premiered the video shortly after accepting the inaugural Artist Director Honors during the star-studded ceremony. The award, which was presented to Swift by Johnson, celebrates a sustained and influential body of work from artists who have pushed creative boundaries and developed a clear directorial voice. She has utilized music videos as an extension of her songwriting as, along with Patient Zero, she has directed the visuals for her tracks: The Fate of Ophelia, Opalite, The Man, cardigan, willow, All Too Well: The Short Film, Anti-Hero, Bejeweled, Fortnight (feat.

Post Malone), I Can See You (Taylor’s Version) (From The Vault), Karma (feat. Ice Spice) and Lavender Haze. Swift’s newest video kicks off with an eerie, snow-covered scene of Swift visiting her own grave before shadowing Johnson as she desperately tries to navigate her romance with Farrell. Johnson and Farrell erupt in explosive fights as well as moments of passion – including an intense make-out – as Swift’s ghostly character watches on helplessly while singing lyrics like: ‘I heard somebody saying there’s trouble in paradise.’ The song comes to a pause as a tense scene between Johnson and Farrell plays out in a car, with him accusing her of having ‘too much’ to drink after she confronts him about flirting with Delevingne’s character at a party. Then, Swift directed a montage featuring herself and Farrell’s character going through all of the same ups and downs – including their engagement and a tearful argument – during their relationship, which later ended with her death. Headlines appear on screen that read: ‘Heiress dies of mystery illness – husband inherits billions,’ suggesting Farrell had possibly killed Swift’s character for her money.

The video closes out with both Swift and Johnson visiting a gravesite that happens to belong to Swift’s ghost. It shows Swift’s actual birth year as 1989 and the year of her death as 2023 – which some fans speculate is a jab at her ex-boyfriend Joe Alwyn, from whom she split that year. While Johnson places a single rose on Swift’s headstone, the viewer is left wondering if she has left Farrell’s abusive character or if she decided to stay despite Swift’s advice from beyond the grave. Fans applauded the video, which featured cinematography by Oscar-winner Emmanuel Lubezki, after Swift briefly spoke about her love of directing during her VMAs acceptance speech. ‘I’ve gotten to be a part of making 60 music videos roughly,’ Swift said of her 20-year career. She noted that she directed and wrote 18 out of the 60 music videos she’s created, noting that she loves ‘writing and directing music videos so much is because you the fans make it so much fun.’ Along with her award for Artist Director Honors, Swift also took home the night’s top prize – Video of the Year – beating out the likes of Madonna and Ariana Grande.

She won the honor for her Fate Of Ophelia video, which was released last year and featured on her latest full-length album The Life Of A Showgirl. Taking to the VMAs stage for a second time, Swift dedicated her win to the late Dolly Parton, who passed away in August at age 80 following a private cancer battle. ‘I want to dedicate this award to one person, and without whom this wouldn’t be happening, and that person is the ultimate showgirl Dolly Parton,’ she told the crowd.

Swift’s VMAs appearance comes just days after the release of The Life Of A Showgirl: The Encore, a surprise deluxe version of her 2025 album. The new record includes four new songs from Swift, including a love anthem to Kelce titled Cleveland, a nod to his Ohio hometown, that critics dubbed a ‘dud’ despite the sentimental lyrics. The other three tracks – Pink Clouding, Babylon and Patient Zero – also failed to impress the critics, as well as many of Swift’s diehard fans. Currently, The Life Of A Showgirl: The Encore has an abysmal score of 39 on Metacritic, which means it has received ‘generally unfavorable reviews.’

Swift had announced the album just days before its release, telling fans that she wrote the songs ‘out of pure gratitude’ for her fans’ exuberance for and celebration of The Life Of A Showgirl, which was released on Kelce’s birthday on October 3, 2025. ‘About a year ago, you guys did a truly unfathomable thing. Something that completely blew my mind… You gave The Life of a Showgirl the biggest first week for an album in history,’ she wrote of its success in a Tuesday Instagram post. ‘I took a trip to Sweden to celebrate with Max and Shellback, my two collaborators on this album. Really we just wanted to reflect and take in how grateful we were for the moment we were in, but there was a studio there and we did what we do when we feel anything at all: We wrote more songs. ‘I hope you love them, because they were born out of pure gratitude for your exuberance for and celebration of the album we made. The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore including four new songs is out on Friday and available to pre-order and save now,’ concluded Swift, who has since made Patient Zero her latest single.

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