Karlie Kloss has sent the internet into full detective mode after sharing a fun 2016 throwback, and noticeably leaving out one very famous former best friend: Taylor Swift.
The model posted the nostalgic snap to social media this week, revisiting a moment from nearly a decade ago, a time when she was firmly entrenched in fashion’s inner circle and living her best life in New York.
But fans were quick to point out what, or rather who, was missing.
The height of the “squad” era
2016 marked the peak of Karlie and Taylor’s ultra-visible friendship.
From joint Vogue covers and front-row fashion week appearances to sleepovers, holidays and iconic Fourth of July parties, the duo were inseparable.
Karlie was one of the most prominent members of Taylor’s famed “squad,” often described as her real-life best friend.
This group refers to her famous group of friends, including models like Gigi Hadid, Karlie Kloss, Martha Hunt, Lily Aldridge, and Cara Delevingne, alongside musicians like Selena Gomez, Lorde, and the Haim sisters (Alana, Danielle, Este), and actresses such as Blake Lively, Lena Dunham, and Hailee Steinfeld.
Despite being from the exact era when the two were practically attached at the hip, the post featured no trace of Taylor- no tag, no mention, no subtle nod… and nothing gets past a Taylor Swift fan.
What happened between Karlie Kloss and Taylor Swift?
If I knew the answer to this I’d be a millionaire, but unfortunately, Karlie and Taylor’s falling out has never been publicly explained.
Their once-constant appearances together abruptly stopped around 2017, and despite years of fan theories- ranging from personal betrayal to political differences, neither has ever directly addressed what went wrong.
Over time, Swift has referenced themes of broken trust and lost friendships in her music, while Karlie has remained largely silent.
One of her most famous songs Right Where You Left Me, from the album Evermore describes the memory of a close friend deciding to leave.
The most telling lyrics include: “Friends break up, friends get married.”
What are fans saying about the snub?
It didn’t take long for fans to connect the dots and comments quickly flooded in.
One fan wrote: “Missing a key person here girl,” a second teased: “You know exactly what you’re doing and I love you for this.”
An eagle-eyed user wrote: “Come on, Karlie, 13 pictures for 2016? You know who we’re expecting to see,’ referencing Taylor Swift’s lucky number 13.
Not only did Kloss include 13 photos, fans also noted her “nod” to Swift’s song Champagne Problems in her last photo- a classic easter egg move learned from the queen herself no doubt!
The final photo featured Karlie on the front of Vogue magazine with a sub-headline saying “The Midas Touch” in Spanish.
One fan exclaimed: “Slide THIRTEEN being Midas touch is soooooooo,” in the comments.
Why is “The Midas Touch” a big deal?
“Midas touch on the Chevy door” is a lyric from Taylor Swift’s song Champagne Problems which means someone (who fans often believe is Karlie Kloss) had the ability to or elevate anything ordinary (a simple Chevy door) into something golden.
However, the song goes on to say that despite appearing valuable from the outside, the relationship became broken and unusable, like a beautiful but non-functioning gold car.
Was this a petty move by Karlie?
Whether the purpose of this 2016 throwback was intentional shade or simply Kloss taking part in a silly online trend, the message many fans took away was clear: their friendship is over.
In an era where celebrities often choose to stay silent, Karlie’s nostalgic throwback may say more than any caption ever could.
We would still love a tell-all book though… a girl can dream!
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