Travis Kelce exhibited signs of anxiety and awkwardness during his recent date with Taylor Swift, according to a body language expert, following reports of pressure from his family to propose.
The Kansas City Chiefs tight end, 35, and the singer, also 35, displayed affection as they stepped out in Manhattan on Saturday night.
Travis donned a striking look in a red denim jacket that was unbuttoned and paired it with matching, loose-fitting trousers.
Meanwhile, Taylor showcased her legs in a black minidress, complemented by a long black coat embellished with sparkling silver designs throughout the fabric.
Despite the confident appearance of his outfit, UK-based body language expert Judi James told DailyMail.com that Travis seemed uncomfortable during the outing.
Judi pointed out that the athlete appeared to exhibit “signs of awkwardness or anxiety,” just days after a source revealed to DailyMail.com that he’s experiencing familial pressure to propose to Taylor.
“His hand clasp with Taylor indicates closeness, with his hand firmly on top and their fingers intertwined, but his free hand touches his stomach and moves in a way that suggests he feels pressured,” she explained.
“His teeth appeared clenched, and he occasionally bowed his head, which is unusual for someone who typically enjoys being in the spotlight.”
“While Taylor appears confident and sociable, Travis seems to be in a conflicting state. The question arises: why the apparent anxiety?”
“If he is on the verge of proposing, these signs would align, but they could also stem from a man feeling pressured to commit.”
Judi added that Travis has been “upping his game” with traditional gentlemanly gestures, similar to how he acted early in their relationship.
“In recent days, he seems to be attentive to Taylor, using touch and guiding gestures to convey his desire to treat her like royalty,” she noted.
Last week, an insider informed DailyMail.com that Travis feels “overwhelmed” by the pressure to propose to Taylor.
Speculation about the couple moving towards marriage intensified after fans noticed a peculiar detail in photos from Taylor’s 35th birthday celebration.
Eagle-eyed fans claimed that Taylor’s left ring finger appeared “blurred” in pictures, with others suggesting she was deliberately concealing her finger.
This led to theories that Taylor had intentionally “edited out” an engagement ring, implying that Travis had already popped the question.
Subsequently, a source explained how these rumors inevitably land on Travis, despite his efforts to avoid the gossip, and how they contribute to the pressure he’s feeling from his family.
They stated, “He does come across some of these stories because it’s unavoidable. He finds some of it amusing because he knows how much the public desires this to happen. At times, it can feel overwhelming.”
Travis’s family has been teasing him about the ongoing rumors, adding lightheartedness to the external pressure while also contributing to it.
The insider added, “His family jokes about weddings and playfully compares him to his brother, whose wife is already having more children.”
It seems that the couple is managing the situation together by finding humor in it.
“Taylor and Travis find it extremely funny that they are considered engaged every day since they started dating,” a friend of the singer revealed exclusively.
“These engagement rumors have been circulating since day one, and they aren’t sure how they could even have a public engagement at this point.”
Taylor and Travis have been dating since summer 2023 and have faced repeated engagement rumors since their relationship became public.
The couple had to address speculation in October after Monday Night Football commentator Troy Aikman mistakenly referred to Taylor as Kelce’s “missus” on air.
Insiders have noted that both Travis and Taylor are “well aware” of the speculation surrounding their engagement hopes, with Taylor being more experienced in handling such public scrutiny.
“Travis and Taylor are knowledgeable about pop culture, and when they are in the spotlight, they are well-informed about it, whether through personal knowledge or external sources,” a source said.
“Given the unrelenting nature of engagement rumors, they both encounter them frequently.”
“It’s just a part of their lives that they don’t dwell on, as it takes away from how special the moment will be when it actually happens.”