Travis Kelce and his brother, Jason Kelce, made internet history when they welcomed Travis’ girlfriend, pop sensation Taylor Swift, to their “New Heights” podcast. The response was nothing short of extraordinary.
YouTube viewership peaked at 1.3 million concurrent viewers, which doesn’t include the countless fans streaming or downloading the podcast on other platforms. The moment created a rare unity between NFL fans and “Swifties,” Swift’s devoted fanbase, all tuning in together.
How Did Taylor Swift Break the Internet During the Podcast?
The massive audience proved too much for the platform to handle. The podcast’s X account acknowledged the technical difficulties, posting, “We hit a glitch but will be back shortly!!!” Minutes later, the “New Heights” account added, “Shoutout all the 92%ers and swifties for actually helping us break the internet”.
For context, “92%ers” is what Travis and Jason call their regular podcast listeners. After this episode, they likely gained quite a few “Swifties” to their ranks as well.
The glitch sparked immediate reactions across social media. One fan couldn’t restrain a quick post and wrote, “Taylor glitching everything”. Another fan joined in and wrote, “you really broke YouTube huh”. Even WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark got into the action and she posted on X, “Swifties so powerful we broke the internet.”
The technical chaos became a topic of fascination. One account was trying to figure out what happened mechanically and wrote, “YouTube servers rn”.
YouTube servers rn pic.twitter.com/nxfzmicXsc
— Fanatics Sportsbook (@FanaticsBook) August 14, 2025
The glitch became a viral moment in itself. This person decided to share some Swift images and wrote, “A glitch, you say?”
A glitch, you say? pic.twitter.com/Vublf55o4z
— Hilary ❤️🔥🌵✨ (@guiltyasHil) August 14, 2025
A tech-savvy fan offered their analysis. The fan wrote, “Servers got overloaded literally broke the internet today”. Meanwhile, another viewer expressed disbelief at the situation, asking, “Wait. You just hung up on over a million people?”
What Was the Fan Reaction to the Technical Difficulties?
Swift’s devoted fanbase wasn’t about to let technical issues stop them from hearing their idol. One fan wrote, “You guys broke Youtube, devs do something i wanna watch Taylor”. Another viewer shared the same sentiment, “Taylor just broke YouTube”.
The frustration was real, but fans handled it with humor. One supporter shared a funny image of Jason looking forlorn, with the caption “Please hurry”.
Please hurry pic.twitter.com/wzeDwXG5JX
— ❤️🔥 cam (sheetz girl) ❤️🔥 (@CamsBeenHaunted) August 14, 2025
Not everyone maintained their composure during the outage. One frustrated fan wrote, “@YouTube get yo s**t together girl”.
Beyond the technical drama, Swift used her “New Heights” appearance to reveal the album cover for her new record, “The Life of a Showgirl.” Jason made sure Swift fans knew the album was available for pre-order on Swift’s website. Travis admitted that there were moments when he felt “mesmerized” when seeing Swift on stage.
The podcast’s viewership numbers will likely set records for “New Heights.” However, Travis remains focused on preparing for another NFL season with the Kansas City Chiefs. Jason, now retired from his NFL career, has more time to wait for Swift’s album release, unless Swift ships him an early copy.
Fans can expect to see Swift at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, once the Chiefs’ season begins. Once again, sports and pop culture have found their intersection, creating moments that captivate millions worldwide.
