What really happened to Taylor Swift at the AMAs

Taylor Swift’s devoted fans were anxiously awaiting the pop star’s appearance at the 2025 American Music Awards, only to be wildly disappointed when she never took the stage.

Swifties thought she would potentially announce the release of her long-awaited Reputation (Taylor’s Version) album at the event and were left massively disheartened when the Shake It Off singer skipped out on the Las Vegas awards show Monday night.

In the past, Swift has accepted awards via video, leaving some of her fans optimistic she would make a virtual appearance. 

Swift was nominated in six categories for her 11th studio album, The Tortured Poets Department: Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, Favorite Touring Artist, Collaboration of the Year, Favorite Female Pop Artist, and Favorite Pop Album. However, she didn’t receive any awards on Monday night.

Now, Daily Mail can exclusively reveal why Swift, 35, who holds the record for most AMA wins with 40, opted out of attending the star-studded evening.

‘She avoided the AMAs because she didn’t want to deal with 1000’s of questions about the Blake Lively saga,’ an insider spilled to Daily Mail.

Taylor Swift’s devoted fans were anxiously awaiting the pop star’s appearance at the 2025 American Music Awards (above, seen with her awards at the show in 2022)

Swift hit the red carpet for the American Music Awards in 2019 – while she didn’t always walk the carpet, she usually accepted her awards via video call 

Taylor and her boyfriend Travis Kelce, both 35, often stepped out for glamorous dinner dates in New York City, but now they’re keeping a much lower profile

Amid the ongoing lawsuit between Lively and her It Ends With Us co-star Justin Baldoni, Swift opted to avoid the drama by staying out of Vegas and off the red carpet to avoid any unexpected and uncomfortable questions. 

‘It is all anyone wants to talk about and Taylor is really tired of it,’ the insider continued. 

Swift is desperate ‘to move on and she does not want to keep dealing with it,’ the source divulged.

After being unwantedly dragged into Lively’s legal battle, Swift has distanced herself from her former friend.

Earlier this month, Swift was subpoenaed as a witness by Baldoni’s legal team – only for the subpoena to be dramatically withdrawn last week after the actor’s attorneys reportedly got what they were after.

A source told the Daily Mail last week that Swift’s father Scott, 73, had provided evidence to Baldoni’s lawyers allegedly detailing how Lively had ‘threatened to leak’ private texts from Swift unless the singer publicly supported her legal battle.

Luckily, Travis Kelce, 35, has been an incredibly supportive boyfriend throughout it all, even unfollowing Lively’s husband Ryan Reynolds on Instagram last month. 

Her family and friends are all banding together, but Swift is making sure to avoid the spotlight to steer clear of questions about her former best friend. 

While Swift didn’t take home any awards at the AMAs, Billie Eilish, 23, was the winner of the night, walking away with the Artist of the Year award. Swift is happy for the younger artist, and the insider said she ‘does not need awards to know how talented and loved she is.’

Swift has forcibly distanced herself from her former friend Blake Lively, seen above at the Super Bowl in 2024 

The lovebirds have spent some time apart before reuniting for a romantic (and pricey) dinner date at Harry’s Bar and Restaurant in West Palm Beach

Swifties have been anxiously awaiting new music or album re-releases, but the pop superstar has been tight-lipped about when she’s announcing more, although she’s famous for dropping Easter eggs, or subtle hints, to her followers.

Still, the insider told Daily Mail that she ‘knows that there will be more music and more albums with more awards,’ hinting at what’s to come, calling future wins ‘inevitable.’

In recent days, the Lover hitmaker has been keeping a low-profile and has been enjoying time with her boyfriend in Boca Raton, Florida, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 

Since the pair began publicly dating in September 2023, they have made a habit of jetting around the world to be with each other and their families. Lately, the couple has been spending time out of the public eye, and instead have been leaning on each other for support as he trains for his upcoming NFL season, which is likely to be his last. 

Most recently, fans have been wondering when the Chiefs player will propose, as the lovebirds spent some time apart before reuniting for a romantic (and pricey) dinner date at Harry’s Bar and Restaurant in West Palm Beach. Harry’s is a 45-minute drive from Kelce’s lavish $20 million waterfront mansion in Boca Raton.

The couple was also snapped enjoying Mother’s Day brunch in Philly at the farm-to-table restaurant Talula’s Garden alongside both of their moms, as well as Kelce’s brother and sister-in-law, Jason and Kylie.

‘Right now, she is just living her life and enjoying this time with Travis,’ the insider confirmed, adding, ‘There is no break, there is no drama,’ despite the couple avoiding the limelight and not hitting the AMAs red carpet or spending time in New York City surrounded by their celebrity pals. 

‘They are just being a normal low-key couple and are shying away from the spotlight.’