If you’ve spent any time on TikTok lately, you’ve probably seen the grainy clips and the frantic comment sections. People are spiraling. There’s this persistent rumor floating around the internet that the world’s biggest pop star and the guy who sang "Beautiful Things" were secretly a thing. It’s one of those classic internet "ships" that seems to have a life of its own.
But let's be real for a second.
The question "did Taylor date Benson Boone" is basically the latest Rorschach test for celebrity gossip fans. Some see a hidden romance; others see a simple business transaction. If you're looking for the short answer: No, Taylor Swift and Benson Boone never dated. They didn't. Not even a little bit.
Honestly, the timeline just doesn't work. Taylor has been very publicly engaged with Travis Kelce since August 2025, and their relationship has been a literal whirlwind since 2023. Meanwhile, Benson Boone spent the better part of 2024 and 2025 in a very public relationship with influencer Maggie Thurmon before they split up late last year.
So, where did this whole thing come from? Why is everyone so convinced there was something more?
The London Connection That Started the Rumors
The sparks—or at least the rumors of them—started back in June 2024. Taylor was in the middle of her record-breaking Eras Tour, and she brought Benson Boone out as one of the few male opening acts for her shows at Wembley Stadium in London.
Imagine being 22 years old and getting a call from Taylor Swift’s team. Benson has been pretty vocal about it in interviews, basically saying he nearly lost it when he got the invite. He told Rolling Stone he wasn't even a "Swiftie" before the tour; he actually had to start binge-listening to her discography so he wouldn't look clueless on stage.
🔗 Read more: Jada Pinkett Smith 90s: Why the World Fell in Love With Her First
- June 23, 2024: Benson opens for Taylor at Wembley.
- The Shout-out: During her set, Taylor praised him on stage, calling him incredible.
- The Backstage Hang: A photo surfaced of them hanging out, which the internet immediately latched onto.
Because the internet is the internet, "she praised his music" quickly turned into "they’re secretly dating." It’s a classic move. We see two attractive people in the same vicinity and our brains immediately go to romance.
Why the Rumors Stuck (and Why They’re Wrong)
The chemistry between them was strictly professional, but it was good professional chemistry. Benson has described Taylor as "genuine" and "kind," noting how she treats her crew like family. That kind of high-level respect can sometimes be misread as something deeper by fans who are desperate for a new "lore" chapter in the Swiftian universe.
But here is the thing: Taylor’s life is basically a fishbowl.
If she were dating Benson Boone, we would have seen them at a nondescript dive bar in Brooklyn or caught a blurry paparazzi shot of them grabbing coffee. Instead, every single public appearance Taylor made during that window was either on stage or with Travis Kelce.
The Maggie Thurmon Factor
While people were busy wondering about Taylor, Benson was actually busy with someone else. His relationship with Maggie Thurmon was the real deal. They were "Instagram official" by June 2024—literally the same month the London rumors started. They did the whole red carpet thing at the VMAs and he even mentioned her as the inspiration behind some of his more emotional tracks.
The couple eventually split in late 2025 amidst some messy cheating allegations that Maggie hinted at on TikTok. If Benson had been dating Taylor Swift on the side, that would have been the biggest scandal of the decade. It just didn't happen.
The Professional "Swift Lift"
What actually happened between Taylor and Benson is what people in the industry call the "Swift Lift." When Taylor Swift puts her stamp of approval on a rising artist, their career goes into overdrive.
She didn't date him; she mentored him.
By inviting him to open for her, she gave him access to an audience of nearly 90,000 people a night. That’s not a date; that’s a massive career boost. Benson himself has said that watching her perform changed his perspective on how to run a tour. He wasn't looking for a girlfriend; he was looking for a blueprint on how to become a superstar.
The Truth About Their Current Relationship
As of 2026, the two are just peers. Taylor is planning a wedding and Benson is navigating the fallout of a messy breakup while continuing his climb up the charts. They are in completely different orbits.
The reason this rumor keeps resurfacing is mostly due to "new" fans discovering the old Wembley footage and not checking the dates. It’s easy to get sucked into a TikTok rabbit hole where everything looks like a secret clue. In the world of Taylor Swift, everything is a potential Easter egg, but sometimes a photo of two singers is just a photo of two singers.
Actionable Takeaways for Fact-Checking Celeb Rumors
If you're ever unsure about a celebrity dating rumor, here’s how to cut through the noise:
- Check the Timeline: Look at who both parties were publicly dating at the time. Overlaps are rare in the age of constant social media surveillance.
- Look for Non-Work Interaction: Did they ever see each other when a camera wasn't supposed to be there? If they only "hang out" at work events (like the Eras Tour), it’s probably just work.
- Trust the Sources: Gossip accounts like DeuxMoi are fun, but major outlets like People or Variety usually wait for actual evidence before confirming a relationship.
- Ignore the "Vibes": "They look cute together" isn't evidence of a relationship. It's evidence of good lighting.
Benson Boone is a massive talent in his own right, and Taylor Swift is a legend who knows how to spot talent. Their connection was about music, mentorship, and a really big stage in London. Nothing more, nothing less.
If you want to keep up with who they're actually dating, stick to the confirmed news. Taylor and Travis are still going strong, and Benson is currently single and focused on his next album. The "Boone and Swift" era only existed in the imaginations of the internet.