It was a classic celebrity interview moment, one that probably had a few people at the radio station cringing after the fact. Actor Tom Hiddleston, known for his roles from Loki to The Life of Chuck, recently faced a minor on-air stumble. A host seemed to completely forget about Hiddleston’s past relationship with a very famous singer, Taylor Swift.
The 44-year-old star was a guest on Heart Radio UK on August 21, promoting his upcoming movie. His The Life of Chuck co-star, Karen Gillan, 37, joined him. The chat was light, with Hiddleston sharing his quiet passion for reading sports stories online. "I usually end up on sports summaries," he told the host. "Whether it’s football, or if I missed a tennis championship. There are many sports journalists who write really well about sports, and I love reading what they’ve written."
Then came the unexpected turn. Host Devin Griffin, 40, decided it was a good time to bring up Swift’s own internet browsing habits. Everyone knows Swift has become a huge NFL fan since she started dating Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. Reports say she now keeps up with NFL injury reports. But Griffin had another piece of celebrity trivia.
"We just heard: Taylor Swift, a big fan of a sourdough recipe blog," Griffin announced. He called it "very, very specific, but I understand how you could get hooked on that."
Hiddleston looked taken by surprise when his former girlfriend’s name suddenly popped up. He seemed to freeze for a moment, letting Gillan step in first. "That sounds like a clue for something," Gillan joked about Swift’s love for sourdough, adding with a smile, "I think it might have something to do with the Super Bowl."
The radio show later poked fun at its own slip-up. Heart FM shared the awkward clip on their TikTok page. The caption was spot-on: "When you accidentally mention their ex…"
It’s easy to forget, considering how much time has passed, but Hiddleston and Swift shared a brief, high-profile romance. They first met at the Met Gala in May 2016. Their relationship lasted for about three months before they decided to call it quits.
A source close to the couple explained the split to Us Weekly at the time. They said Swift was the one who ended things. The source mentioned that Hiddleston wanted their relationship to be more public than Swift was comfortable with. She understood the negative attention that comes with public displays of affection. However, Tom reportedly didn’t listen to her worries when she voiced them.
Life moves on, and both stars have certainly done so. Taylor Swift, known for hit songs like "Shake It Off," has been happily dating Travis Kelce since the summer of 2023. Meanwhile, Hiddleston has also built a new life and family. He became engaged to actress Zawe Ashton in 2022. The couple welcomed their first child that same year, keeping the name and sex private. They are now expecting their second child. Clearly, both Hiddleston and Swift have found lasting happiness in their new relationships.
Tom Hiddleston. (Photo by starzfly/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)