The 51st American Music Awards (AMAs) took place on Monday, May 26, at Fontainebleau Las Vegas, with Jennifer Lopez steering the fast-paced, two-hour ceremony. But while the show delivered music and surprises, what truly caught fans’ attention was who wasn’t there: Taylor Swift.
Her noticeable absence became a hot topic online, especially as she did not bag a single win. Fans quickly took to social media to share their thoughts, theories, and a mix of frustration and amusement.
One fan speculated on a possible reason for her absence, “Maybe taylor was gonna go to the amas then she saw that people tracked her jet so she was like ‘you know what maybe ill sit this one out [sic].'”
An individual mocked the awards outcome, “Ofc taylor didnt attend the #amas thats why she didnt win any of her categories LMAOOO [sic].” Another fan theorized about the reason behind the results, “Amas were pissed taylor didn’t attend and gave the awards to other poeple [sic].”
One commenter didn’t hold back on criticizing the entire event: “The amas had got to be BROKE this year cause that event was a mess 😭 completely disorganized red carpet, hardly any notable attendees, and less than two hours of runtime??? lowkey glad taylor did not attend [sic].”
Another person raised questions about the legitimacy of the outcomes, “Amas results are all very fishy not even just for taylor but the fact no one even slightly big attended (besides renee rap) and all 7 major categories went to 1 person, which good for them but those odds are highly unlikely. [sic]”
And finally, one fan dropped a cryptic theory, “Alternative opinion but maybe bc they purposefully snubbed her – the amas are now the reason for no explanation there will just be reputation [sic].”
For fans who have come to expect Taylor Swift to dominate the AMAs, the shutout felt unusual, if not intentional. This year, the singer was nominated for six major awards, including Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, Favorite Touring Artist, Favorite Female Pop Artist, and Favorite Pop Album—all of which she lost to Billie Eilish.
Her collaboration with Post Malone, “Fortnight,” was also up for Collaboration of the Year at the AMAs but lost to Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars’ “Die With A Smile.”
The AMAs weren’t the only awards show where Swift walked away empty-handed. At the 2025 Grammys, she faced a similar outcome despite landing multiple high-profile nominations. Her album “The Tortured Poets Department” was up for Album of the Year but lost to Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter.”
Sabrina Carpenter claimed Best Pop Vocal Album with “Short n’ Sweet,” while Kendrick Lamar swept several major categories with “Not Like Us,” winning Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Music Video.
Meanwhile, Swift’s only collaborative nod—Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for “Fortnight” with Post Malone—lost out to Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars’ “Die With A Smile” at the Grammys.
Swift has been lying low lately, skipping several major events, including the Met Gala earlier this month. She and her boyfriend, NFL star Travis Kelce, were both reportedly invited but couldn’t make it work due to scheduling conflicts.
While Kelce has never attended the Met Gala, Swift last walked its iconic red carpet in 2016, when she served as a co-chair for the event themed “Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology.”
While Swift and Kelce have skipped several high-profile events, the duo seems to be enjoying their personal time and was recently spotted on a cozy date night in Florida.
Even with their limited public appearances, the duo has remained a constant topic of conversation among fans. Swift, in particular, made headlines after Justin Baldoni’s lawyer suggested she could be deposed in his ongoing legal battle with her close friend, Blake Lively.
A source said that the pop star is a strong woman who isn’t hiding from anything. According to the insider, she’s simply taking some time to enjoy being under the radar with Kelce.
