The Australian Press Is Even More Obsessed with Taylor Swift Than Tom Hiddleston Is

The singer has sparked a frenzy Down Under.

mc-taylor-swift-australia
mc-taylor-swift-australia
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Hiddleswift headed Down Under this week ahead of Hiddleston filming for Thor: Ragnarok on the Gold Coast. Predictably, mass hysteria ensued. Within an hour of their arrival in Sydney, #Hiddleswift was already trending on Twitter in Australia. But it's not just the Swifties who are getting worked up over the close proximity of the pop star—Aussie TV and media outlets have been fangirling HARD since the couple touched down in Sydney on Thursday. Like, harder than Tom Hiddleston in an 'I ❤️ T.S.' tank top.

News outlets began buzzing about Swift's visit before she'd even arrived, and you can be sure they had their reporters on-location by the time she was wheels-down. Some even live-streamed the momentous event from their "Swifty Cam."

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"She looks very happy. Very happy, those two," gushed Sunrise reporter Shaun White over footage of Hiddleswift walking through the Sydney airport. "Well, they look pretty much in love, I tell you what. We've got a bit of a match made in heaven here… It's like a love story, you know, one of her songs."

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"Oh I loved it," White went on to candidly reveal to the station's crew. "When I got this assignment this morning, I was actually listening to a few of the Taylor Swift songs, just to feel the vibe a bit."

It was only a short stop-over in Sydney before Swift and Hiddleston continued on to their final destination in Queensland, where another frenzied wave of reporters and fans awaited the hitmaker. Jess Millward covered/live-tweeted Swift's arrival. We have to say, her (and the Australian press in general) use of the nickname 'Tay Tay' is entirely excessive. Maybe it's an Aussie thing?

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Tom Hartley from Channel 7 may have had the best (and most awkward) Swift-related segment. Spurred on by his colleagues during a live cross, Hartley put forth his best efforts to gain the attention of the singer.

"Tay Tay likes her men a bit rough and ready," Weekend Sunrise host Mike Amor told Hartley. "Take your tie off, mate." (Which he did.)

"Look up and yell, mate. Look up and yell!" Amor egged on. Again, an enthusiastic Hartley obliged and shouted out, 'Tay Tay!'

He even showed off a few "Shake it Off" dance moves. This guy is a really good sport…

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Then today, the Gold Coast Bulletin put their copywriters' fan status to the test and incorporated Swift's song titles in every headline.

This isn't the first time the Aussie media has gotten a little out of hand when it comes to Taylor Swift. When the singer was there last December for her 1989 Tour, she had to request the overzealous press tone things down a bit.

"Aussie press, I love your enthusiasm but my birthday isn't for 2 weeks and it'll be a quiet one this year," Swift wrote on Instagram. "Let's take it down a notch :)"

Good luck in Oz, Hiddleswift!

Sarah Lindig
Editor

I am an experienced editor, writer, and creative strategist, specializing in fashion, beauty, and lifestyle content for digital media outlets, as well as video and social platforms. While I currently operate as a freelance contributor/consultant, with such clients as The Zoe Report, my 10+-year background in the industry was cultivated at the dot-coms of elite publications, including Harper’s BAZAAR, ELLE, and Marie Claire.