“Such sexism”: Barbara Walters grilled Taylor Swift on dating history in resurfaced clip as Travis Kelce romance draws fresh scrutiny

Taylor Swift’s high-profile relationship with Travis Kelce may be dominating headlines in 2025, but a newly resurfaced interview with the late Barbara Walters is stirring fresh debate about how the pop icon’s love life has long been scrutinized — often unfairly.

Hulu’s explosive upcoming documentary The Barbara Walters Effect features a tense moment between Swift and the legendary journalist that’s reigniting discussions about media double standards.

Taylor Swift called out Barbara Walters’ “sexist” question in a viral flashback moment

The documentary’s trailer showcases a particularly heated exchange between Walters and Swift, then just 25 years old, during a televised interview. With paparazzi photos flashing across the screen — including shots with Harry Styles, Jake Gyllenhaal, and John Mayer — Walters delivers a cutting line:“As you’ve become more famous, so have the boyfriends,” she said, before bluntly asking, “How do you ever expect to find anybody?”Swift, known for fiercely defending herself and her songwriting, didn’t back down.

“That’s an old joke,” she replied sharply. “It comes from a place of such sexism.”The clip is now making waves again — this time with renewed significance. With Swift’s current relationship with NFL star Travis Kelce under constant media watch, the old footage highlights how little has changed. From being judged for writing heartbreak songs to now being critiqued for dating an athlete, Swift’s personal life continues to attract a level of scrutiny that few of her male counterparts face.

In the same interview, Swift highlighted the industry’s double standards with a now widely quoted observation: “If a man writes about his feelings, he's brave. If a woman does it, she's oversharing or ‘crazy.’” The resurfaced quote is resonating with fans once again, particularly as Swift balances the release of The Tortured Poets Department with a widely publicized romance in the spotlight.

While The Barbara Walters Effect revisits interviews with figures like Donald Trump, Oprah Winfrey, and Courtney Love, it’s Swift’s moment that feels most urgent in today’s climate.

Walters was known for her relentless questioning, but the Swift segment stands out as a snapshot of the cultural attitudes that persist even a decade later.Also Read: Taylor Swift’s dad despise Blake Lively— Why is Scott Swift protecting Justin Baldoni? Fans question shocking moveAs Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift continue to fuel both romance rumors and stadium headlines, Hulu’s documentary serves as a timely reminder: the world still has a long way to go when it comes to how we treat powerful women in the spotlight.