Taylor Swift Left Red-Faced by Ellen DeGeneres’ Cringe-Worthy Questions on Hygiene

In 2019, Taylor Swift found herself at the center of a viral debate after an awkward moment on The Ellen DeGeneres Show made her blush. Known for her cheeky questions, Ellen had a way of making celebrities squirm—and on this occasion, Swift wasn’t exempt.

Taylor Swift and Ellen DeGeneres on ‘The Ellen DeGeneres Show’. (Cover Image Source: YouTube| The Ellen Show)

The conversation took a strange turn when Ellen quizzed Taylor about her personal hygiene routine, specifically about washing her legs. “We’re back with Taylor Swift, who was just telling me about washing her legs in the shower. I couldn’t hear you. Did you say you do wash them, or you don’t?” the comedian asked, sparking an uncomfortable moment.

Swift, ever the good sport, quickly clarified, “I do. Because when you shave your legs, the shaving cream is like soap.”

But Ellen wasn’t satisfied with that answer and pressed further, asking, “Unless you’re not shaving, and then you’re not washing.” Swift responded, “I don’t think I would say that. But I kind of always shave my legs.”

There’s only 2 types of people in the shower:

people who don’t wash their legs

and people who think to themselves “I can’t fucking believe some people don’t wash their legs” every single time they wash their legs

— ANASTASIA (@LIBRAVUITTON) August 10, 2021

Ellen then threw in a zinger: “Every day?” To which Taylor reluctantly confirmed, “Yes.” Ellen’s comeback? “You must be hairy,” she shot back, leaving Swift visibly uncomfortable.

The awkward exchange didn’t sit well with fans. One sarcastic commenter said, “We were all curious to know whether Taylor Swift shaves her legs every day and now we know. Thank you, Ellen, you’re a savior.” Another fan quipped, “Apparently 2.5 million people need to know if she washes her legs.” The conversation quickly spiraled into an online debate, with people taking to social media to voice their thoughts on whether or not legs should be washed in the shower.

 
Screeshots from X (Image Source: X| (L) @Arpwel (R) @_whosthatgirl_)
 

On Twitter (now X), a user named Anastasia stirred the pot further, tweeting, “There’s only 2 types of people in the shower: people who don’t wash their legs and people who think to themselves ‘I can’t believe some people don’t wash their legs’ every single time they wash their legs.”

The debate spread like wildfire, with people chiming in on both sides. One user even joked, “Who knew this was a thing?? I hope people are washing their legs. I think people zone out in the shower.” Others expressed their surprise that Swift shaves her legs every day. “She shaves her legs every day??? I shave them only when I have to wear dresses, skirts, or swimsuits!”

The online chatter reached a fever pitch when another user, Conor Arpwel, posted a poll on X asking, “Do you wash your legs when you take a shower?” The thread went viral, dividing opinions on the topic, leading Arpwel to clarify, “For the record, I do wash my legs but lots of people apparently don’t.”

Ellen, ever the opportunist, couldn’t resist addressing the viral debate in a later episode of The Ellen DeGeneres Show. During her opening monologue, she discussed the “trickle-down effect,” a term used by people who believe that soap running down their body while they shower is enough to clean their legs. “They’re calling it the trickle-down effect,” Ellen joked. “Which means that dirty water is trickling down your dirty legs, making it doubly dirty.” She then read out some of the trending tweets from X, slamming those who don’t wash their body parts thoroughly.

Taking a playful jab at Swift, Ellen ended with a subtle dig, saying, “Everybody should be washing everything.”

Despite the drama, it wasn’t long before The Ellen DeGeneres Show wrapped up its final season in 2022 after 19 successful years. During its run, the show was criticized by numerous celebrities for the way they were treated. Mariah Carey, for example, revealed in 2008 that she felt uncomfortable after Ellen forced her to confirm her pregnancy, which later resulted in a miscarriage. In a quiet yet pointed jab at DeGeneres following the cancellation announcement, actor Ryan Phillippe shared a Be Kind meme on Instagram with the Ellen logo in the background.