Graham Norton has shot down a “conspiracy theory” surrounding Taylor Swift’s “Opalite” music video, in which he guest stars.
Speaking at the Royal Television Society conference in London, Norton said seeing his famous “The Graham Norton Show” sofa brought to life in Swift’s video was “really odd” and “made my dreams come true.”
But he debunked a rumor circulating online that Swift first filmed the music video – which stars Domhnall Gleeson, Greta Lee, Jodie Turner-Smith, Cillian Murphy and Lewis Capaldi — and then arranged for its cast to appear on Norton’s show.
“The Swifties, they love a conspiracy theory,” he said, referring to Swift’s army of fans. “So there were Swifties who thought we’d filmed the music video first and then orchestrated to get all the people on the sofa.”
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Broadcaster Tina Daheley, who was interviewing Norton on stage, interjected: “It was literally an idea she came up with while she was on the show.”
Norton replied: “Yeah, yeah. I don’t know, but certainly when you watch the clips, there is a moment when it looks like she’s having the idea, and it’s kind of amazing to have the show get that kind of recognition.”
The video, which was released in February this year, features Swift and Gleeson as two unlucky in love singles who eventually find their way to one another, taking part in a dance contest on the way. Lee, Turner-Smith, Murphy and Capaldi all make cameo appearances.
Swift appeared on Norton’s BBC show – which famously has an eclectic mix of celebrity guests each week — last October, appearing alongside Gleeson, Lee, Turner-Smith, Murphy and Capaldi.
During the recording, Gleeson quipped about appearing in one of Swift’s music videos at which point, she later revealed, the concept “crash-landed into my imagination” while still sat on Norton’s sofa.
