Finneas recalls awkward Taylor Swift moment that still embarrasses him years later

Finneas talks about the awkward exchange he had with Taylor Swift at her 32nd birthday party in 2021.

Finneas O’Connell has revealed the celebrity encounter that continues to embarrass him years later — an awkward exchange with Taylor Swift at her 32nd birthday party in 2021.

The 28-year-old Grammy-winning musician, best known for his work with sister Billie Eilish, spoke about the moment in a new interview with The Guardian.

He recalled arriving at the party, which Swift hosted alongside Haim’s Alana Haim, and accidentally saying “Thanks for coming” to the birthday girl. “I said ‘Thanks for coming’ to Taylor Swift. At her birthday party. She said, ‘Thank you so much for coming,’ and I said, ‘Thank you for coming!’” Finneas explained.

He had previously shared the story in a 2022 Instagram Q&A, noting he meant to say “Thanks for inviting me.” The musician was promoting his work with The Favors bandmate Ashe when he revisited the anecdote, describing it as his “most cringeworthy run-in with a celebrity.”

In the same interview, Finneas revealed he is skilled at doing impressions and named Extreme Makeover: Home Edition as the reality show he would most like to join, citing fond memories of host Ty Pennington.

Sharing the best advice he has received, Finneas recalled a mastering engineer telling him, “If something ever goes wrong, you just rock out.” 

With ten Grammys already to his name, Finneas continues to balance high-profile collaborations with personal creative projects.