Taylor Swift dropped the music video for her song “Anti-Hero” on Oct. 21, and we need to talk about it. In the video, we see Swift’s future funeral, complete with a coffin (that she’s hiding inside) and a photo of an elderly Swift with her many cats. At the funeral, her two future sons and her daughter-in-law are talking about Swift’s will, and how she only left them 13 cents. (This is a reference to the song’s lyrics, where Swift sings, “I have this dream my daughter-in-law kills me for the money. She thinks I left them in the will.”) It turns out, Swift’s daughter-in-law’s name is Kimber — which is eerily similar to Kimberly, aka Kim Kardashian. And, get this — the song and music video were released on Kardashian’s birthday.
In Swift’s video, her children are seen reading her will that states, “I bequeath the majority of my assets to the following: Meredith Grey Swift, Olivia Benson Swift, Benjamin Button Swift. The beach house will be converted into a cat sanctuary for the aforementioned. And to my children, I leave 13 cents, each.”
As the children are fighting over the will, Swift’s daughter-in-law, Kimber (played by Mary Elizabeth Ellis), says to one of Swift’s sons, “Well, great job, Chad. You finally pushed it too far.” Chad (aka John Early) asks, “What are you implying by that?” Her other son, Preston (played by Mike Birbiglia), says, “I think she’s implying that you haven’t hesitated to trade on mom’s name.” Kimber says, “Do you not remember your book Growing Up Swift?” Preston chimes in, “And your stupid podcast Life Comes At You Swiftly? Which I’m pretty sure you’re recording for on your phone right now!” The camera pans to an iPhone on one of the seats in the funeral parlor that’s open and using the voice recording app.
So, now that everyone’s caught up on what happens in the video, let’s talk about what it could mean. As her fans know, Swift isn’t just going to pick random names for her children (and children-in-law) that mean nothing. Kimber is just two letters away from Kimberly, aka Kim Kardashian, who released a recording of a 2016 phone call between Swift and Kardashian’s ex-husband Kanye West that added fire to already-vigorously-burning flames. (It’s possible the mention of recording in the music video is alluding to that, too.)
That phone call was about West’s song “Famous,” where West sings, “I think me and Taylor might still have sex. I made that b*tch famous.” As fans all know now, he’s referring to “making her famous” for jumping on stage at the 2009 VMAs when she won her award for Best Female Video for “You Belong With Me.” What album was that song on? Fearless. What is Kimber wearing in the “Anti-Hero” music video? As Chad and Preston point out, a dress from the 2009 Fearless tour.
Another possible hint that all of this is a reference to Kim K? Swift dropped the album, song, and music video on Oct. 21, 2022 — Kim Kardashian’s 42nd birthday. Of course, this could all just be a coincidence, but Twitter isn’t so sure.
So Taylor, tell us! Is this the latest Kim K reference? While fans may never know, I’m keeping my fingers crossed for a Kim K reaction.