Country star Keith Urban and his Oscar-winning wife actress Nicole Kidman paid Taylor Swift a visit on her record-breaking “The Eras Tour” this weekend. Urban previously collaborated with Swift on the “Fearless” (Taylor’s Version) vault track “That’s When”. Urban shared wholesome photos and videos from his family’s experience at the concert, featuring friendship bracelets and lots of dancing. In a now viral TikTok of Urban and Kidman dancing along to Swift’s “1989” track “Style”, a couple is seen kissing in the background.
@keithurban we love ya @Taylor Swift ???? #erastour
The couple is Grammy nominated singer-songwriter Phoebe Bridgers, who is supporting Swift on “The Eras Tour”, and YouTuber turned multi-hyphenate Bo Burnham. The pair sparked dating rumors several months ago, when it was announced that Burnham had split from his longtime girlfriend, acclaimed filmmaker Lorene Scafaria. Bridgers was rumored to be engaged to her longtime boyfriend, actor Paul Mescal, notably of “Normal People.” Both Burnham and Bridgers were rumored to have cut ties with their respective partners in 2022.
Bridgers notably covered Burnham’s popular wordy track “That Funny Feeling”, with proceeds from music sales going to abortion funds in Texas, where the first round of anti-abortion legislation passed in 2021. The collaboration was applauded by music fans, and inspired a viral TikTok trend of songwriters adding their own verses about current world events to the song. They reportedly remained close friends since the collaboration.
@jensenmcrae been nearly a year since my last #thatfunnyfeeling rewrite. should I make it an annual tradition? #boburnham #boburnhaminside #songwriter #foryou #fyp #voiceeffects
The Internet’s Thoughts
While this pair has been widely speculated over the past few months, fans of the musicians were mostly surprised to have their relationship seemingly confirmed by accident. Several comments on Keith Urban’s TikTok post read ‘Keith in his deuxmoi era”. Deuxmoi is a celebrity gossip tip line that reveals information about celebrities from anonymous sources.
this is the most random sentence I’ve ever heard in my life
— Sawyer Knight (@SawyerKnight) May 15, 2023
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Mostly, fans were shocked that such an interesting combination of people were under the same tent at “The Eras Tour.”Several of Swift’s celebrity friends have attended shows on her tour so far, including Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds, Gigi Hadid, Selena Gomez, Ethan Hawke, and more.
taylor is friends with everybody bc why did I just watch a video of Keith urban and Nicole Kidman singing style, Phoebe bridgers and Bo burnham making out in the background.. I’m sure matty Healy was eating raw bison meat in the corner. mind you katniss Everdeen is there too
— alex ???? ⁷ (@nothnghppens) May 15, 2023
After the initial shock settled, fans of Bridgers were quick to remind the internet to be kind. The “Motion Sickness” singer has spoken out about harassment from fans and paparazzi, and though this TikTok was clearly an accident, Bridgers likely does not want her relationship to be scrutinized.
https://twitter.com/incentraIpark/status/1658180425486077952?s=20
The Comparisons
Bo Burnham and Phoebe Bridgers’ relationship is immediately drawing comparisons to that of the alleged relationship between Taylor Swift and the 1975’s Matty Healy. Healy has also been to nearly all of Swift’s shows on “The Eras Tour”, and has been playing guitar for Bridgers on stage. Both Swift and Bridgers were in long-term relationships with actors Joe Alwyn and Paul Mescal, respectively. Alwyn and Mescal appeared to become close friends through their partners, and through their work on two Sally Rooney novel adapted projects, “Normal People” and “Conversations With Friends.” The pair even interviewed each other for Variety’s “Actors on Actors” interview series.
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Fans are making the connection to the fact that both singers coincidentally appeared to make similar relationship choices lately, as they are now both potentially in new relationships after ending things with their long term partners.
the way we used to joke about paul mescal and joe alwyn being the first men of the eras tour and now we have bo burnham and matty healy there instead. life comes at you fast
— taylor ???? heard tosotd & coney island live (@shivroyapologst) May 15, 2023
https://twitter.com/silkychiffon/status/1658167822285955089?s=20
Healy has been embroiled in several different controversies throughout his music career. He was once quoted saying that it would be “emasculating” to date Taylor Swift, for which he has since apologized. Months ago, he additionally appeared on “The Adam Frieland Show”, where he made problematic comments about race in relation to rapper Ice Spice. Healy has since apologized for this incident as well.
Burnham additionally found himself in a controversy over his early 2000s-YouTube comedy videos. He since made a self aware track about taking accountability for himself, titled “Problematic.” Despite both Healy and Burnham having had past controversies, fans are reminding music listeners that Healy still has a lot to atone for.
https://twitter.com/hairpindr0ps/status/1658167008502984704?s=20
Of Course, The Memes
Naturally, the situation is creating a pop culture multiverse of madness for fans of the several actors and musicians involved. Social media users had to turn the confusion of it all into memes.
Bo Burnham after attending the Eras Tour pic.twitter.com/nJvravXUu7
— kaela ❉ (@frightenedkiwi) May 15, 2023
not keith urban hard launching phoebe bridgers and bo burnham???????????? pic.twitter.com/g8hgOGFhTC
— judbud ???? (@judsonennis) May 15, 2023
Neither Bridgers nor Swift have discussed their respective relationships at this time, but fans of both popular musicians are turning to their art for clues.
