If there’s one word to describe Taylor Swift it would be mastermind. She loves to keep Swifties on their toes by sprinkling Easter eggs here and there, like the blue outfit changes for 1989 (Taylor’s Version) during her Eras Tour or the Google puzzles to unveil the vault tracks for the upcoming re-release. And let’s not forget Swift essentially manifesting her relationship with Travis Kelce. Even when Swifties think they are caught up with her plans, Swift proves she’s always one step ahead. Because of this, fans have been on the lookout for her next re-record album hint and Swifties think all signs point to Reputation (Taylor’s Version). The latest hint: A glitch in the Eras Tour concert film.
Ever since the Red (Taylor’s Version) debacle where she revealed her re-release in a series of word scrambles, fans are used to having to decipher clues in order to see what Swift is up to next. Just when they think they have it all figured out, Swift will drop a bomb, such as the release of Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour concert film. The film gave Swifties a chance to relieve the unreal experience of the tour, but it also brought out the sleuth side of the fanbase. Fans were hoping a Reputation (Taylor’s Version) announcement would happen during post-credits of the movie. They may not have gotten that, but Swifties are taking to TikTok to share a subtle moment within the movie that might have revealed a Rep (TV) Easter egg.
Fans think a glitch during their Eras Tour movie is a nod to Rep (TV).
By now, Swifties are trained to not overlook any coincidence as it might be an Easter egg for Swift’s next album drop — even if it might just be technical difficulties. During the Eras Tour showings, many fans have been noticing glitches occur as they watch the movie. One TikToker, @notcxcilia posted a video she took of the movie’s end-credit scene. In case you haven’t seen the film, Swift sends a note to her fans after the credits that says, “Thank you to the most generous, thoughtful, loving fans on the planet. This is all because of you and for you.” In her video, @notcxcilia notices a glitch and immediately assumed it’s an Easter egg. More specifically, an Easter egg for Reputation (Taylor’s Version).
Under the video, other fans seemed to agree that the glitch was intentional. One commenter wrote, “My movie kept doing that throughout the whole show.” Another posted, “I stg her face from a Rep pic showed up while ‘Bejeweled’ was playing but no one else noticed it.” Listen, this wouldn’t be the first time Swifties overanalyzed a random occurrence and this truly might just be faulty cinemas, but Swifites have a good reason for why this glitch might be a Rep (TV) Easter egg.
Two things are synonymous with the Reputation era: Snakes and glitches. Snakes are the popular motif in the album, popping up in Swift’s sets, outfits, and even on her mic. But glitches and snakes were both present when Swift first teased the release of her album back in 2017. Following a social media blackout, she returned to Instagram to tease Reputation. The video only showed a snake slithering with a glitch, sparking an era where those two motifs became attached to the album. Even in her song “…Ready for it?,” which she used to announce the Reputation Stadium Tour, there sounds like there was a glitch in the audio.
This isn’t the first time a glitch has appeared in the Swiftieverse.
We all know Ms. Swift is a mastermind, so it’s not surprising that a glitch has been used as an Easter egg more than once. Back on Sept. 17, 2021, Swift posted a TikTok video of her announcing “Wildest Dreams (Taylor’s Version).” And you guessed it, there was a glitch in the video. At the time, fans didn’t think much of it, but two years later, the glitch made its appearance again.
On Sept. 17, 2023, @Taylornation posted the glitchy video of the “Wildest Dreams (Taylor’s Version)” announcement on Instagram with the caption: “Say you’ll remember her standing in a blue dress, releasing #WildestDreamsTaylorsVersion, babe. Our first glimpse of #1989TaylorsVersion came 2 YEARS AGO today! The memories of ~the glitch~ and her wink still follow us around. 👀” So, yes, the glitch was intentional and it was clear that Swift was hinting at 1989 (Taylor’s Version), which comes out Oct. 27, two years in advance.
Can you really blame Swifties for thinking a glitch during the Eras Tour movie is a coincidence? But wait there’s more.
Fans think Swift’s song “Glitch” holds some special clues.
When Midnights was released in 2022, it was mayhem. From the nods to Swift’s past albums in “You’re On Your Own, Kid” to the theories of a re-record surrounding “Karma,” Swifties were fed with hints to the singer’s next album releases. Although a glitch is one of Swift’s favorite ways to tease fans, it was a track on Midnights that held some special clues.
The Swiftie sleuths have been taking over TikTok to share their “Glitch” theories. One TikToker, @tslovelights, points out that the lyrics in “Glitch” might give us a date for Swift’s next re-release. In the song, Swift sings, “But it’s been two thousand one hundred and 90 days of our love blackout.” Fans think Reputation (TV) is the next re-record because 2,190 days since Reputation first came out is Nov. 9, which is exactly 13 days after 1989 (Taylor’s Version) is released on Oct. 27. If you’re a Swiftie, then you know the significance of 13. Coincidentally enough, 2,190 days is equivalent to six years, and Reputation is Swift’s sixth studio album. Also, let’s not forget Reputation was announced after Swift went on an Instagram blackout, making the lyric “love blackout” a little suspicious.
Additionally, that same TikToker noticed the song cover on Spotify for “Glitch” is the same video that was used to tease “Wildest Dreams (Taylor’s Version).” The math just so happens to line up perfectly, but I’m hoping it’s not too good to be true.
Listen, it might just be the delusion talking, but Swifties might be onto something. Recently, there has been an influx of Reputation (TV) Easter eggs, and now with the Eras Tour concert film, fans are on high alert. Swift is always up to something, it’s only a matter of time we’re going to find what she’s up to next.