Tom Hiddleston Finally Addresses His Infamous "I Heart Taylor Swift" Tank Top
He also claims their relationship "was real."


The day was July 4th, 2016 (opens in new tab). The place? A fancy beach in Rhode Island, where Tom Hiddleston—newly minted member of Taylor Swift's squad—felt the need to frolic in the water wearing an "I Heart T.S." tank top. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the most WTF of times. And now, Tom is *finally* explaining himself.
Tom Hiddleston really ❤️'s Taylor Swift https://t.co/x6wkTjLIrB pic.twitter.com/PzQ6S3RBVVJuly 4, 2016
"The truth is, it was the Fourth of July and a public holiday and we were playing a game and I slipped and hurt my back," Hiddleston recently told GQ (opens in new tab). "And I wanted to protect the graze from the sun and said, 'Does anyone have a T-shirt?' And one of her friends said, 'I've got this.' And we all laughed about it. It was a joke."
He wanted to PROTECT HIS GRAZE, mmmkay?! So, what are Hiddleston's feelings on Taylor now that they're broken up?
"Taylor is an amazing woman," he says. "She's generous and kind and lovely, and we had the best time. Of course it was real."
"I don't know," he continues. "I just, I was surprised. I was just surprised that it got so much attention. The tank top became an emblem of this thing. I only know the woman I met. She's incredible. A relationship in the limelight...A relationship always takes work. A relationship in the limelight takes work. And it's not just the limelight. It's everything else. So we decided to go out for dinner, we decided to travel."
This explains so much.
Follow Marie Claire on F (opens in new tab)acebook (opens in new tab) for the latest celeb news, beauty tips, fascinating reads, livestream video, and more.
Mehera Bonner is a celebrity and entertainment news writer who enjoys Bravo and Antiques Roadshow with equal enthusiasm. She was previously entertainment editor at Marie Claire and has covered pop culture for over a decade.
-
Lizzo Embodies Disco-Ball Chic at the BET Awards
Legend.
By Iris Goldsztajn
-
Lizzo, Sophie Turner and More Celebrities React to Roe v. Wade Being Overturned
It's been a difficult weekend.
By Iris Goldsztajn
-
Olivia Rodrigo and Lily Allen Dedicated 'F*** You' to the Justices Who Struck Down Roe v. Wade at Glastonbury
Rodrigo listed their names one by one.
By Iris Goldsztajn
-
Who Is Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's Fiancé Riley Roberts?
AOC's husband-to-be is an "easygoing redhead" who lives with her in D.C.
By Katherine J Igoe
-
68 Times the Kardashians Posed Fully Nude and Owned It
And we mean fully nude—as in, not a shred of clothing.
By Bianca Rodriguez
-
Who Is Jonathan Owens, Simone Biles's Fiancé and NFL Player?
"The easiest yes!" Simone wrote about the couple's engagement.
By The Editors
-
Surprise! Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Nick Jonas Are Parents
They welcomed a baby via surrogate.
By Neha Prakash
-
Meghan and Harry Share First Photo of Their Daughter Lilibet Diana
The Sussex's holiday card is here!
By Rachel Epstein
-
The 50 Best Celebrity Couple Halloween Costumes Ever
Honestly, we're impressed.
By Charlotte Chilton
-
Alicia Keys Gets What She Wants
With her jazzy new album, Keys, the singer stopped worrying about everything except what matters: Her own opinion.
By Jessica Herndon
-
Brooke Shields on Reinventing Yourself, Making Friends in Your 40s, and More
The actress and CEO shared inspiring advice during a panel at 'Marie Claire's' "Power Trip: Off the Grid" conference.
By Rachel Epstein