The streets of Manhattan erupted in chaos on May 5, 2025, when Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce was spotted exiting a swanky SoHo hotel, sending Taylor Swift fans into a tailspin. Convinced the NFL tight end was in town to join his pop superstar girlfriend on the Met Gala red carpet, Swifties flooded X with frenzied speculation, trending #TravisAtMetGala worldwide. But when the glittering event came and went without the power couple in sight, their no-show—marking their third consecutive Met Gala absence—fueled rampant theories that Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are hiding a massive secret.

The drama began when paparazzi snapped Kelce, 35, looking dapper in a tailored black suit, waving to fans outside the hotel just hours before the Gala. “He was grinning ear to ear, totally relaxed,” an onlooker told Celeb Scoop Daily. “Everyone assumed he was prepping to escort Taylor to the Met.” Fans on X went wild, with one posting, “Travis in NYC on Met Gala day? We’re getting Tayvis on the red carpet, I’m calling it!” Another shared a blurry fan video of Kelce signing autographs, captioned, “He’s serving Met Gala LEWKS. Taylor’s about to slay.”

Expectations were sky-high for the couple, who’ve been dating since 2023 and have yet to make a joint Met Gala appearance. Swift, 35, known for iconic looks like her 2016 silver Versace gown, hasn’t attended since 2019, and fans hoped Kelce’s presence would mark her grand return. The 2025 theme, “Renaissance Redux,” seemed tailor-made for Swift’s dramatic flair, with many predicting a Romeo-and-Juliet-inspired couples’ look. “Taylor and Travis as Renaissance royalty? It’s too perfect,” one X user gushed.

But as the red carpet unfolded at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the absence of “Tayvis” was glaring. Stars like Zendaya and Bad Bunny dazzled, but Swift and Kelce were nowhere to be found. Disappointment turned to suspicion as fans noticed the couple’s pattern of dodging high-profile events together. “They skipped the Met again? Something’s up,” one Swiftie tweeted. Another posted, “Travis was literally in NYC. Why hide? Are they planning something HUGE?”

Theories about what the couple is concealing have exploded online. The leading speculation is that Swift is pregnant, with fans pointing to her looser-fitting outfits during recent tour stops and Kelce’s increased time in New York, where Swift owns a Tribeca penthouse. “Taylor’s hiding a baby bump, and the Met Gala’s too public to risk it,” an X user claimed, sharing a zoomed-in photo of Swift in a baggy sweater. Others believe the couple is secretly engaged—or even married—citing Kelce’s recent sighting at a high-end Manhattan jeweler. “He was ring shopping, I bet they’re already hitched,” a fan theorized.

Insiders, however, offer a less sensational explanation. “Taylor and Travis just wanted a low-key night,” a source close to the couple told Gossip Pulse. “They’re in love but don’t feel the need to flaunt it at every event. The Met’s a circus, and they’d rather chill.” The source added that Kelce’s NYC visit was to support Swift during a break from her ongoing Eras Tour, with the couple spotted dining privately at a West Village bistro the night of the Gala.

Still, the couple’s absence has only amplified their mystique. Swift’s history of dropping cryptic clues has fans scouring her recent lyrics and Kelce’s podcast, New Heights, for hints. A throwaway line from Kelce about “big plans” for the summer sent X into overdrive, with one user posting, “Big plans = wedding? Baby? New album? Tayvis is cooking something!” Swift’s silence on social media, unusual for a Met Gala night, added fuel, with fans noting she hasn’t posted since a vague Instagram caption: “Taking my time, you’ll see.”

For now, the couple remains tight-lipped, leaving fans to dissect grainy paparazzi shots and speculate wildly. Kelce, back in Kansas City for Chiefs offseason training, dodged Gala questions during a recent interview, saying only, “New York was fun, man. Next question.” Swift, meanwhile, is reportedly holed up in her Nashville studio, sparking rumors of new music inspired by her romance.

As #Tayvis trends continue to dominate X, one thing is clear: Swift and Kelce’s Met Gala no-show has only deepened their enigma. Whether they’re hiding a baby, a ring, or simply their privacy, the world is watching—and theorizing—every move.