“TIME Cover Chaos!” Taylor Swift’s Cat Hijacks 2023 Person of the Year Shoot — The 6-Minute Meltdown That Stopped Everything Cold.
Taylor Swift during her 2023 TIME Person of the Year era
When Taylor Swift was named TIME Person of the Year in 2023, the moment was supposed to be tightly controlled, elegant, and symbolic of her unprecedented cultural dominance. Instead, it briefly descended into chaos—thanks to a fluffy, wide-eyed accomplice with no respect for schedules: her youngest cat, Benjamin Button.
According to Swift, what should have been a seamless six-minute setup spiraled into a full production pause when Benjamin decided the shoot was about him. “Benjamin Button isn’t just a cat,” Swift once joked. “He’s a professional stalker who insists on being held like a baby at my busiest times.” True to form, the cat began meowing dramatically, climbing onto her shoulders, and refusing to calm down unless physically attached to her.
The “Professional Stalker” at Work
Among Swift’s three cats, Benjamin is the wildcard. While Meredith Grey and Olivia Benson maintain an air of aloof celebrity dignity, Benjamin operates on pure emotional entitlement. Swift has repeatedly shared that he seems to possess an uncanny radar for critical moments—recording vocals, getting makeup done, or preparing for global events—and chooses those exact seconds to demand “skinship.”
This obsession includes his signature move: insisting on being held upside down like a human baby, a behavior common to Ragdoll cats. If ignored, Benjamin escalates. Loudly. The TIME shoot was no exception.
From Music Video to Forever Home
Benjamin’s story began in 2019 on the set of Swift’s “ME!” music video. During filming, Swift was introduced to a kitten available for adoption. The connection was instant. She famously turned to her co-star Brendon Urie and asked, “Can I have him?” By the end of the day, Benjamin had gone from rescue kitten to permanent member of pop royalty.
The Iconic TIME Cover Moment
During the Person of the Year photoshoot, Benjamin refused to be sidelined. Photographers Inez and Vinoodh captured the now-iconic moment when Swift allowed him to drape himself around her neck like a furry wreath. What started as a disruption became history: the first TIME Person of the Year cover shared with a cat.
The image resonated instantly—softening the grandeur of the honor with humor, warmth, and authenticity. It was peak Taylor Swift: global power paired with unapologetic personal chaos.
A Legacy of Feline Fame
Swift’s cats have long transcended pet status, appearing in commercials, social media lore, and even pop culture references like Deadpool 2, where Ryan Reynolds wore a shirt featuring Olivia Benson.
Yet Benjamin remains different. He doesn’t chase brand deals or mystique. His mission is simpler: interrupt greatness at the worst possible time—and look adorable doing it.
From a halted TIME shoot to late-night songwriting sessions, Benjamin Button has proven one thing beyond doubt: no matter how many records Taylor Swift breaks, she will always answer to her cat.
