Inside the cynical world of PR showmances – from Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart to fresh Taylor and Travis rumours

09/04/2024 03:34 PM

THERE is nothing like a celebrity romance to boost your profile – just ask Travis Kelce who has become a household name since dating Taylor Swift.

The NFL footballer and pop idol have dominated headlines around the world since they went public with their relationship 11 months ago.

In what was dubbed the "Taylor effect", the Kansas City Chiefs tight end saw sales of his jersey rocket by 400 per cent within just one week of the 14-time Grammy winner being spotted at his game.

But Swifties — as Taylor's fans are known — are in a tizz this week after a "contract" was leaked on social media suggesting their romance is a publicity stunt.

The since-deleted pictures show a document on the headed paper of Full Scope PR, which represents Travis, 34, that says the couple are due to split on September 28.

The alleged contract even outlines prospective break-up statements that would be "gracious, respectful, and stress mutual respect" as well as tactics on how to deal with a "media frenzy" in the aftermath.

'Sell the hype'

Taylor, also 34, has remained silent while Travis' team blasted the document as a hoax, saying it is "entirely false and fabricated and was not created, issued or authorised by this agency".

A spokesman added the agency had called in lawyers.

Taylor's army of fans have speculated the contract could be "AI generated" with one Reddit user pointing out "it reads like a high school assignment".

But adding fuel to the fire is the fact Travis' publicist Jack Ketsoyan has previously admitted staging at least two "showmances" for his clients.

He told an Australian podcast in 2019 that fake romances are used to create "hype" if a celebrity has a new movie or product to push — or to distract from bad publicity.

Ketsoyan, who also worked with Jennifer Lopez said they were once used to cover up a celebrity's sexuality if they had not yet come out as gay.

He explained: "It's to be able to sell the hype of it — whether a concert, album or getting people to see the movie. It's all about the hype at the moment."

The agent, who once wrote a book featuring a showmance, also claimed a minor female star had even become a "household name" after a year-long fake fling with an actor who was getting bad reviews for a film.

He said: "It was more of a mutual agreement between the agents. We found him a girl, a one-year deal, he finished off the press and a bit after they went their separate ways."

Many fans questioned why squeaky-clean Taylor would want to date the bad boy of American football, but the pair looked to be genuinely devoted.

Taylor even gave Travis a starring role at her Eras Tour show in London in June, with the footballer wearing a top hat and black suit tailcoat to carry her on stage.

Celebrity agent and PR expert Carla Speight does not believe the Taylor-Travis "contract" circulating online is real.

She said: "I can't see any truth in these PR documents because, if their affair was staged it would be Taylor's team who would be all over it and not Travis'. She's more famous. You've also got to ask what Taylor would get from a made-up relationship with a football player Yes, they fit into the American ideal of the prom queen dating the football star, but I can't see any sportsman turning up on stage in a top hat unless you're totally in love.

“It's a total gear change for him."

Whatever the truth of Taylor's relationship with Travis, the murky world of faux romances is nothing new, even for the superstar songwriter.

Taylor was hit by showmance rumours when she had short-lived flings with The 1975 frontman Matty Healy, 35, last year and English actor Tom Hiddleston, 43, in 2016.

The Marvel actor, who was relentlessly mocked after wearing a I (heart) TS vest on the beach with the singer, was accused of faking the relationship to raise his profile enough to be in the running for the next James Bond.

Carla said reality stars are more likely to enter into showmances than A-listers, which take far more planning.

When Amy Willerton, a former Miss Universe competitor, and Joey Essex, 34, were filmed cuddling on I'm A Celebrity in 2013, they were tipped to be the next Peter Andre, and Katie Price, who found love on the ITV show in 2004.

But Amy, 31, told The Sun earlier this year that even after their fling had fizzled out, the Towie hunk's people wanted them to pretend they were still together.

She said: "I didn't want to play the game. I wasn't up for the whole 'pretend couple', that was a bit too far for me. I wanted to have something real."

Luisa Zissman, 37, admitted her relationship with N-Dubz rapper Dappy on 2014's Celebrity Big Brother was a ruse.

The former Apprentice candidate later admitted in a newspaper column: "I did an interview with OK! Magazine which kept you all guessing, perhaps alluding to the fact we were sharing more than just fluttered eyelashes, but never quite confirming it. Mainly because we definitely were . . . NOT."

One of the most famous staged flings between reality TV stars was in 2006 when Nicole Richie, 42 — who appeared on The Simple Life with Paris Hilton — allegedly hooked up with Steve-O.

The Jackass star, 50, later said: "The truth is she wanted some publicity for something other than being skinny."

And few will be shocked to learn a member of the Kardashian– Jenner family faked a romance.

Five Seconds Of Summer singer Ashton Irwin claimed his reported fling with Kendall Jenner, 28, in 2014 was a business deal.

The 30-year-old said in 2018: "Yeah, some people might want you to be seen with a certain person or you know . . .  it works two ways."

Effortless chemistry

Even Hollywood stars are in on the act.

Sydney Sweeney, 26, and Glen Powell, 35, "leaned into" rumours of an affair during promotion for their movie, Anyone But You, last year.

The Top Gun: Maverick actor later told the New York Times: "The two things that you have to sell a romcom are fun and chemistry. Sydney and I have a ton of fun together and we have a ton of effortless chemistry. That's people wanting what's on the screen off the screen, and sometimes you just have to lean into a bit — and it worked wonderfully."

Twilight's Kristen Stewart and Rob Pattinson, 38, dated for nearly four years before splitting in 2013. But the actress later hinted it did not feel genuine towards the end.

Kristen, 34, said: "People wanted me and Rob to be together so badly that our relationship was made into a product.

"It wasn't real life to me any more. And that was gross to me. I don't want to become a part of a story for entertainment value."

Carla denies ever setting up a showmance, but said: "They do happen.

"For agents, they are like the world's most complicated real-life version of chess. You've got to make sure all the pieces are in the right place, everyone is on the same page and saying the same thing, from holidays to outfits. Everything has to be orchestrated.

"These fake affairs can only last so long. Even if a celeb is close to someone on a friendly basis, they don't want to spend 24/7 with them.

"At some point they need to lean into the relationship or end it."

She said many relationships created for publicity were used to deflect negative attention.

Carla added: "They serve a purpose if you want to raise your profile or get more followers, or you detract from something negative. One of the tell-tale signs is if the couple turns up to get papped at everything.

"If it's over the top and looks too good to be true, it probably is."