“There will be a time (if you’re into the idea) for the unreleased vault tracks from that album to hatch,” Swift continued. “I’ve already completely re-recorded my entire debut album, and I really love how it sounds now. Those 2 albums can still have their moments to re-emerge when the time is right, if that would be something you guys would be excited about. But if it happens, it won’t be from a place of sadness and longing for what I wish I could have. It will just be a celebration now.”
While we wait indefinitely (cry!) for the release of the vault tracks from reputation (Taylor’s Version), let’s remember the biggest failed fan theories as a reminder that we can all choose how to spend our one wild and precious life.
Reputation clownery: Grammys 2024
Back before the 2024 Grammys, Swift had changed her profile photo to a black-and-white image, following the theory that her friends and loved ones (including Travis Kelce, Blake Lively, Gigi Hadid, Jack Antonoff, and more) had changed their avatars to black-and-white photos to build anticipation.
To be fair, it would’ve been fitting move to announce a re-recording at the Grammys. Why? Because in the iconic historical document Miss Americana, Swift is shown reacting to the news that reputation — a polarizing album at the time that has since aged well, especially among fans — didn’t receive any main category nominations. “I need to make a better record,” she tells publicist Tree Paine in the documentary. Paine responds, accurately: “Well, reputation is a great record.”
After all the teasing, however, she surprised everyone by announcing The Tortured Poets Department instead, ushering in a new era. The move echoed her last award show album announcement when she broke the news that Midnights would be coming soon at the 2022 VMAs. She loves a mountain top moment. Still, the conversation later turned to reputation (Taylor’s Version) once again.
Reputation clownery: Eras Tour
Throughout the Eras Tour, fans clocked that she had played every reputation song except “I Did Something Bad,” which she could’ve been holding to perform tied to an announcement. She had previously applied this formula when she announced 1989 (Taylor’s Version) back in August 2023, having held off on performing “New Romantics” until the L.A. stop of the tour to coincide with the announcement.
But this, too, was debunked. Swift finally performed the song during her second Eras Tour residency in London’s Wembley Stadium on August 17, 2024, saying: “So I’m going to do a song I’ve never done on the tour that’s one of my favorite songs ever just because you’re that awesome and you deserve something of this caliber.” Fans also noticed Swift made a snake-like gesture while exiting the stage during the same concert.
Reputation clownery: American Music Awards 2025
This one stung the most so far, as the theory seemed so intentional, so wide-ranging that it won over even the most intense of skeptics. Th AMAs theory sort of felt like Swifties’ magnum opus, as it combined a whole bunch of things fans love overanalyzing — numerology, award show appearances, alleged music video easter eggs, music licensing, and Instagram post cadence and color.
