Kathie Lee Gifford is ready to speak now — about Taylor Swift's big-time wedding faux pas over the weekend.
On TODAY Thursday, Gifford, 59, confirmed reports that the 22-year-old singer was a less-than-welcome guest at the Aug. 18 wedding of Kyle Kennedy and beau Liam Kerry. The TV hostess is stepmother to Victoria Gifford Kennedy, the irate mother of the bride who first told the Boston Herald that Swift crashed her daughter's nuptials.
"Why can't I stay out of trouble? I was just a guest at that wedding. [Kyle] is actually my granddaughter by marriage ," Gifford began.
Victoria Gifford Kennedy explained to the Herald that cousin Conor Kennedy — Swift's beau of one-and-a-half months — texted her "an hour before the wedding," asking if they could attend. Although she asked them not to attend, the high-wattage pair "came anyway." When the mother of the bride confronted Swift and asked her to leave, she said, "It was like talking to a ghost. She seemed to look right past me."
Says Kathie Lee: "The truth is, because I was there, Vicki's account is accurate." She confirmed that the "Speak Now" singer and Conor, 18, were asked to leave "twice."
Although she spotted the crooner "in the hallway, waiting around," Kathie Lee explained, "I didn't know there was any drama going on at the time until I spoke to Vicki." Giving the Grammy winner the benefit of the doubt, she added, "I'm not sure [Taylor] didn't know she was invited."
Victoria Kennedy's concern wasn't just maintaining proper RSVP etiquette — but keeping the focus on the bride, not the global star in attendance.
"It's the bride's day, and that was Vicki's other concern. 'This is my daughter's day and I would appreciate it if you would not come.'"
Swift's rep countered to Us Weekly Wednesday: "Taylor was invited to the wedding and the bride thanked her profusely for being there."
