Alexander Skarsgård is no stranger to intense fan theories. After all, he was on one of the biggest shows in the industry, which caused a lot of chaos and created a huge fan base. But this one might just take the cake… and at least a stadium tour.
After more than a decade of whispers, speculation, and Swifties decoding every lyric with CIA-level intensity, the 6’4” Swedish actor has finally addressed the long-standing rumor that Taylor Swift’s 2015 hit “Wildest Dreams” was about him. Are we shocked? No. Surprised? Again, no.
Alexander Skarsgård Laughs Off Taylor Swift Song Rumors
Skarsgård, best known for his roles in “True Blood,” “Big Little Lies,” and now Apple TV+’s “Murderbot,” sat down with Dax Shepard for a recent episode of the “Armchair Expert” podcast.
What started as a jokey anecdote from Shepard about convincing his daughter the song was about him quickly turned into a viral moment when he revealed something new. Apparently, in his research, he’d discovered Swift fans believe the track is actually about him!
“Oh, come on!” Shepard teased. “I told my daughter for years that ‘Wildest Dreams’ is about me! And now I find out it might be about you?”
Skarsgård laughed and deadpanned, “Wait, she saw you in the audience and sang it? Maybe it is about you. I wasn’t in Lisbon. Clearly, it’s not about me.”
Filming ‘The Giver’ Sparked Rumors
Let’s rewind to 2013. Skarsgård and Swift were both cast in “The Giver” and spent time filming together in South Africa. They were spotted hanging out off-set, sparking dating rumors that neither party ever confirmed or denied.
Fast-forward to 2015, and Swift drops “Wildest Dreams”, which peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and features lyrics like, “He’s so tall and handsome as hell/ He’s so bad, but he does it so well/ I can see the end as it begins/ Sound like anyone? Fans certainly thought so.”
Shepard, gently pushing for confirmation, asked Skarsgård if he avoids acknowledging it outright because of the Swiftie tsunami that might follow.
“Yeah,” the Emmy winner admitted with a knowing grin. “The Swiftie army is powerful.” Then, in true Alexander fashion, he pivoted to a punchline: “It’s about Brad Pitt, guys. Let’s be honest.”
Still, when Shepard quoted the line “He’s so bad but he does it so well,” Skarsgård gave it a beat and replied, “A lot of people can be bad…but can they do it well? That’s the question.” Smooth criminal, indeed.
And just in case there was any lingering ambiguity, he quipped, “I’m going to be honest. I wrote the lyrics to that song and sent them to Taylor. ‘Here’s what you should say.’”
From Vampire Sheriff to ‘Wildest Dream’?
Of course, Skarsgård isn’t the first (or last) celebrity to be tied to one of Taylor Swift’s heartbreak anthems. We have several A-list celebrities including Joe Jonas (Forever & Always) to John Mayer (Dear John), Jake Gyllenhaal (All Too Well), Taylor Lautner (Back to December), Matty Healy, Joe Alwyn, and now her current boo, Travis Kelce. Swift’s love life has long been intertwined with her chart-topping catalog, and something tells us it won’t stop anytime soon.
As for Skarsgård, he’s kept his private life impressively private. He shares a son with “The Kingdom” co-star Tuva Novotny, and earlier this year he wrapped filming on “Pillion”, a romantic drama that received a standing ovation at Cannes. He’ll also appear in A24’s upcoming “The Moment” alongside Charli XCX.
Meanwhile, Swift is celebrating two years with Kelce and the blockbuster success of “The Tortured Poets Department,” a 31-track album filled with lyrical nods to several of her recent relationships.
But “Wildest Dreams”? That one’s still up for debate.
And if you ask Skarsgård, he’s more than happy to keep the mystery alive. Or, at the very least, steal the credit with a grin. “We’re all Swifties,” he said. “Let’s just enjoy the music.”
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Alexander Skarsgård Finally Reacts to THAT Taylor Swift Song Rumor