Right now, Taylor Swift is one of the most widely known and celebrated public figures in the world. Though she’s been known for being a very private person, Swift has been showcasing her latest relationship for all to see. So much so, it felt like we knew all the details of this budding romance. But in her Person Of The Year cover story for TIME published on Dec. 6, the “Cruel Summer” singer shared some new info about her newfound relationship, including when this romance actually began.Â
ICYMI, Swift has been dating Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce, who many were convinced she started seeing romantically when she was first spotted at his NFL game on Sept. 24. Though many of us thought Swift’s appearance at the game was the beginning of her romance with Kelce, it turns out that we were way off. During her candid interview with TIME, Swift revealed when exactly this romance started — and it was weeks before romance rumors surrounding her and Kelce began to circulate.Â
By now, you’ve probably heard the infamous anecdote of how Kelce tried to give Swift a friendship bracelet with his number on it during her Eras Tour stop in Kansas City on July 8. (If you haven’t, he explains it in the July 26 episode of his New Heights With Jason And Travis Kelce podcast.) Swift loved the shoutout, which she described as “very adorabl[e]” and “metal as hell” to TIME. She also told the magazine that she connected with Kelce soon after that episode aired.Â
“We actually had a significant amount of time that no one knew, which I’m grateful for, because we got to get to know each other. By the time I went to that first game, we were a couple,” Swift explained. “I think some people think that they saw our first date at that game? We would never be psychotic enough to hard launch a first date.”
Dating Kelce has redefined what a public relationship means for Swift. She’s resolved to unapologetically supporting him at his football games without caring about who’s watching or what people have to say.Â
“When you say a relationship is public, that means I’m going to see him do what he loves, we’re showing up for each other, other people are there and we don’t care… and we’re just proud of each other,” Swift said. Though she’s been showing up to support Kelce, he’s returned the favor by attending her Nov. 10 Eras Tour concert in Buenos Aires, Argentina. It was during this show that Swift gave the athlete a cute shoutout during her song “Karma” and ran up to kiss him after ending the show.
Swift also talked about how she can’t control when, or even how often, she’s shown on TV during the NFL games she attends. “I don’t know how they know what suite I’m in,” she said. “There’s a camera, like, a half-mile away, and you don’t know where it is, and you have no idea when the camera is putting you in the broadcast, so I don’t know if I’m being shown 17 times or once.”Â
When at football games, Swift receives a different kind of attention than what she’s used to. Though Swift’s still adjusting to this, she’s clear about one thing: She’s proud of her man and willing to show up for him.Â
“I’m just there to support Travis,” she said. “I have no awareness of if I’m being shown too much and pissing off a few dads, Brads, and Chads.”
I couldn’t be more happy to see Swift and Kelce’s love and admiration for each other blossom. I want what these two have — is that too much to ask?Â