Taylor Lautner’s Nervous Backflips and His Heartwarming Reunion with Taylor Swift
In a recent appearance on The Tonight Show, Taylor Lautner offered a delightful insight into his nerves and his remarkable reunion with pop superstar Taylor Swift during her July Eras Tour stop in Kansas City, Missouri. Lautner, known for his roles in the Twilight series and his past on-screen and off-screen romance with Swift, made quite the impression at the concert. He shared a candid moment of vulnerability that led to him doing backflips on stage, captivating the audience in the process.
The Kansas City concert was not just a typical tour stop for Swift; it was a significant event that marked a public reunion with Lautner. The pair had previously played an on-screen couple in the 2010 movie “Valentine’s Day” and had even dated during its filming. Understandably, the Twilight star, now 31, was feeling nervous about the reunion.
During his chat with host Jimmy Fallon,
Lautner disclosed his quirky way of dealing with nervousness – backflips. He humorously described his thought process, saying, “I do this weird thing, and it doesn’t make sense, so forgive me when I freak out and I’m really nervous and I black out, I just go straight to backflip.” It was a surprising revelation about his coping mechanism, harking back to his character’s gymnastic abilities on Valentine’s Day.
He further elaborated on the pivotal moment,
I stepped out of this door, and I saw this walkway, and it was like 60 yards down the field. And I’m like, ‘I have to walk down this whole thing? This is going to be so uncomfortable.’ And I was like, ‘Just backflip, and I’ll take up the space, and it’ll be over. Lautner’s decision to perform backflips down the catwalk captured the essence of spontaneity and added an unexpected and entertaining element to the show.
Lautner’s appearance at the concert was tied to the premiere of Swift’s music video for I Can See You,
a track featured in “Speak Now (Taylor’s Version),” part of the artist’s journey to re-record her albums. The song, released earlier this year as one of the “From the Vault” tracks, holds special significance as it brought Lautner and Swift together once again.
He shared an endearing anecdote about when Swift initially reached out to him for the music video. I was at home. It was like a morning around 9 a.m. I get a call from my manager and he goes, You will never believe who I got a call from this morning.’ And I go, ‘I wouldn’t, so why don’t you tell me?’ And he goes, ‘Taylor Swift’s manager and she wanted to see if she can get your new updated cell phone number and reach out, recounted Lautner.
The actor continued,
I was like, ‘OK…did they say what about?’ He’s like, ‘Not really … do you want to talk to your wife [Tay Dome Lautner] about this and make sure this is OK?’ Meanwhile, my wife is right in the kitchen there, and she’s freaking out, and I go, ‘No, by the signs of it, I think she’s gonna be just fine.’ She’s the biggest Swiftie ever, so automatic permission.
The music video featured Lautner alongside Joey King and Presley Cash,
both of whom had previously appeared in Swift’s 2012 music video for the track “Mean.” Together, they took the stage during Swift’s Kansas City show for the video’s premiere. However, Lautner was the sole performer who decided to backflip his way down the catwalk, leaving an unforgettable impression.
During the concert,
Swift expressed her gratitude and admiration for Lautner, calling him “a very positive force” in her life during the making of the “Speak Now” album. She also revealed that he had performed all the stunts in the music video and emphasized the bond she shares with Lautner and his wife, referring to the unique coincidence that they all share the same first name.
As Lautner exited the stage,
he couldn’t help but share his admiration for Swift, saying, “I respect you so much. Not just for the singer you are, the songwriter, the performer but truly for the human you are. You are gracious, humble, and kind and I’m honored to know you.
The reunion of Taylor Lautner and Taylor Swift was not only a heartwarming moment for fans but also a testament to the enduring bonds that form in the entertainment industry. Their unexpected on-stage collaboration, complete with Lautner’s charming backflips, added an element of spontaneity and pure joy to the evening, making it a memorable event for both artists and their adoring audience.