TraitorsAlan Cumming reacts to Taylor Swift's VMAs outfit being compared to his
Published on January 15, 2026 EDT

Alan Cumming has seen all of the posts on social media comparing Taylor Swift’s tartan ensemble at the MTV Video Music Awards to his immaculate Traitors wardrobe and he only has one thing to say about it.

“"Bitch stole my look,” the actor joked while speaking to Entertainment Weekly and PEOPLE on the Emmys red carpet on Sunday. He then quickly added, "Oh, sorry, I'm not supposed to say 'bitch.'"

Cumming then teased that he actually has an outfit that he sports in the next season of the Traitors that looks "very similar" to the yellow-and-black-checkered outfit Swift wore to the VMAs earlier this week.

Frazer Harrison/Getty;Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

All jokes aside, Cumming is thrilled by the comparisons. "It was lovely," he said. "I think it's hilarious that so many people sort of said, ‘Taylor Swift looked like Alan Cumming,' which is a sentence I never thought I would hear!"

When asked if any of Swift's fans followed him online afterward, Cumming wasn't sure. "I just did an Instagram post and I went, 'Ahem, Taylor Swift,' so maybe I lost them," he added, referencing a meme he re-posted earlier this week that featured a side-by-side comparison of Swift’s look with three of his own Traitors outfits

But Cumming and Swift share more than just similar outfits. The pair both picked up major awards over the last week, with Swift earning seven Moon Persons at the VMAs and Cumming taking home the award for Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality Competition Program at the 2024 Creative Arts Emmys ceremony, putting an end to RuPaul's eight-year-long winning streak in the category. The Traitors is also nominated this evening for Outstanding Competition Program.

However, Cumming wasn't present to collect his trophy. "I'm making this film in Scotland, so I was in my bed last week when I won," he said, "and it's actually nice to have won and come here and have all the hullabaloo."

While Cumming noted that he "still might have to go up on stage if we win Best Show" tonight, he's comforted by the fact that he won't be up there receiving the award alone. "It's scary doing this, 'cause you're emotional and you're nervous, so it's not something I enjoy particularly, so I'm glad it all happened when I was in my bed."

The Emmys will air tonight on ABC beginning at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.

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