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YouTube star Todrick Hall, a dancer in Taylor Swift’s music video for “Look What You Made Me Do”, gave insider knowledge on what went on at the shoot.
In an exclusive interview with Entertainment Tonight, the all-around performer and “American Idol” alum was all praises for Swift.
Hall is known for doing video dance covers of artists’ performances, including Beyoncé and Swift herself.
After she saw his video years back, the singer got in touch with the YouTuber.
“We became BFFs, and then she called and said, ‘I’m working on this project that’s super secret but I know I can trust you. Will you not tell anyone?’” he told Entertainment Tonight.
The video was shot in May and all those involved were requested to keep it a secret.
As for her on-set behavior, Hall gushed, “People really respect her, she treats everyone so well.” He also called her “a living, breathing Cinderella” because of her kindness.
“And I don’t know if I’m supposed to say this, but on the day that it came out, she sent everybody these beautiful bouquets of flowers and said, ‘Thank you so much for being a part of this and keeping it a secret,’ because it just made it so much more epic,” he adds.
He didn’t know much about the project other than his own part, and said he was shocked that he had to wear a crop top.
Hall is one of the eight male dancers wearing a “I <3 T.S.” crop top, in reference to when her ex-boyfriend, Tom Hiddleston, was mocked for wearing a tank top with the same design during her Fourth of July celebration in 2016.
He said it was the last time he would wear one. “I was super into it, but I was very nervous. I’ve never done anything like that in my entire life,” he shared.
His performance with Swift is seen at the 2:12 mark of the video, which was choreographed by Tyce Diorio, who also crafted the moves for her “Shake It Off” video.
Image: Screen grab via Youtube/@taylorswiftvevo
Todrick Hall, left, wears a “I <3 T.S.” crop top. Image: Screen grab via Youtube/@taylorswiftvevo
He claimed that she was a natural dancer, despite the leggy singer-songwriter being ridiculed for her awkward dance moves.
“She’s a perfectionist—she was never going to go out on camera and not show herself in the best light. I thought she was amazing,” he noted. “For your first time ever dancing? That looks like she’s been dancing her entire life.”
On the hidden messages in the video, he said he “wasn’t sure what she’s trying to get across,” relating that it was “open for interpretation.”
“I just think it’s so genius! I’m so inspired by her, and when she says, ‘Look what you made me do,’ she means, ‘Look what you made me do… you made me break records, you made me sell more records than anyone else’ … it’s just really insane,” Hall added.
While the song and the video have been panned for being self-centered amidst the celebrity feuds she is embroiled in with Kim Kardashian, Kanye West and Katy Perry, her new single is a hit: the video beat Psy’s “Gentleman” and Adele’s “Hello” for “most watched video in 24 hours” at 43.2 million views, as of this writing.
Hall summed it up, “She’s just such an iconic and epic person, and whatever she puts her hands on always turns to gold.” Niña V. Guno/JB
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