Emma Stone has learned a valuable lesson about joking around when it comes to her friend Taylor Swift, following some backlash for calling the "Cruel Summer" singer an "a--hole."
"I won't make a joke like that again... because I saw headlines that really twisted it out of context," Emma, aged 35, told Variety in an interview released on Wednesday, February 21. "What a mistake."
Emma surprised many fans when she made a light-hearted comment about Taylor, 34, backstage at the Golden Globe Awards on January 7. While chatting with the press, the Poor Things actress was asked about Taylor's support when she stood up to applaud Emma as she accepted the Best Actress – Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy award.
"What an a--hole, am I right?" she quipped about Taylor before stepping away from the microphone.
However, she quickly returned to the center of the stage to clarify that she and the "Long Live" singer are actually good friends. "I've known her for nearly 20 years, so I'm glad she was there," she said. "She was also nominated tonight, so it was great to see her — but what a misunderstanding."
Despite their nearly two-decade-long friendship, Emma and Taylor have mostly kept details about their relationship out of the public eye. Nevertheless, they've subtly shown support for each other over the years.
While Taylor has been present at multiple movie premieres of Emma, the actress from "Easy A" has also ensured her attendance at several concerts of the "Anti-Hero" singer. "I was lucky because we've been friends for a really long time," Emma told Vanity Fair about how she managed to snag tickets to the Eras Tour in March 2023.I've been acquainted with her since we were 17 and 18, so her assistance was greatly appreciated, especially considering how difficult it is to obtain those tickets.
Emma continued to shower praise on Taylor's stage presence, saying she "blows [her] mind." She added, "The amount of sheer stamina to perform for three and a half hours, sing 44 songs, and keep up the extreme energy of the audience — I've never seen anything like it."
Not only do Emma and Taylor clearly share a strong bond, but many fans also believe the Cruella actress inspired Taylor's song "When Emma Falls In Love." The track was initially penned for Taylor's 2010 album, Speak Now, but didn't see the light of day until July 2023 when it was featured as a vault track on Speak Now (Taylor's Version).
While Emma has acknowledged the speculation, she made it clear that Taylor would have to confirm if the song is indeed about her. "You'd need to inquire with her," she informed Entertainment Tonight regarding her longtime friend in December 2023.