Foo Fighters guitarist Pat Smear spotted at Taylor Swift concert on Sunday… after frontman Dave Grohl claimed pop star didn’t sing live

A surprising twist from the Taylor Swift-Dave Grohl controversy has emerged, with Foo Fighters guitarist Pat Smear spotted at one of Swift’s concerts in London.

Both Swift and the Foo Fighters were performing in London over the weekend, with Swift singing in a trio of sold-out shows at Wembley Stadium and the Foo Fighters playing at London Stadium.

After the Foo Fighters’ show on Saturday – where Grohl insinuated that Swift doesn’t sing live – Smear, 64 (born Georg Albert Ruthenberg), was spotted at Swift’s Sunday show.

Smear was spotted in actress Salma Hayek’s Instagram story at the concert, alongside fashion designer Stella McCartney.

While the guitarist doesn’t have a verified social media account, Hayek tagged the Foo Fighters Instagram in the post. 

While neither Swift nor Grohl have spoken publicly about the comments, Swift seemingly acknowledged it on Sunday.

The controversy started Saturday when Grohl told the crowd at London Stadium, ‘We were joking about the Taylor Swift tour earlier. I know that she’s on her Eras Tour.’

The crowd started to boo at the mere mention of Swift, as Grohl added, ‘I’m telling you man, you don’t want to suffer the wrath of Taylor Swift.’

‘So we like to call our tour the Errors Tour. We’ve had more than a few eras, and more than a few f***ing errors as well. Just a couple. That’s because we actually play live. What?’ Grohl said.

‘Just saying. You guys like raw live rock ‘n’ roll music right? You came to the right f***ing place!’ Grohl said before continuing the band’s set.

During Swift’s Sunday performance, she seemingly addressed Grohl’s comments, when introducing her band before the three and a half hour set.

‘What you just did is an unforgettable moment in not just my life, but every very single one of our crew. The band that’s going to be playing live for you for three and a half hours tonight,’ Swift said, without specifically mentioning Grohl.

‘They deserve this so much and so does every one of my fellow performers, and you just gave that to us so generously. We’ll never forget it,’ she added. 

Many were surprised by Grohl’s comments, since he and Swift appeared to be on good terms in the past.

Grohl was performing at the Cannes Lion Festival in 2016 when he told a story about how Taylor Swift saved him from embarrassment in front of Paul McCartney.

Grohl said he was high at gathering where McCartney was at alongside Swift, and after McCartney finished playing a song, everyone turned to Grohl to play.

‘It was kind of like one of those nightmares where you’re running backwards and always late for whatever you got to go to,’ Grohl said.

‘All of a sudden, Taylor Swift stands up and is like, “I’ll play a song,” and I’m like, “Ugh, thank God Taylor Swift’s here.’ Like f—ing Batman when you need him.’

Both Swift and Grohl then played the Foo Fighters song Best of You, as Grohl added, ‘As if I weren’t high enough, that f—ing blew me into outer space.’

Grohl also praised Swift back in a 2021 Rolling Stone piece for her re-recording her original albums after she was denied the ability to reclaim her master recordings.

‘Like, f**k yeah, girl. Hell hath no fury. Now I’m scared of her! I would be so nerdy and into it. I think it’s so much fun,’ Grohl said at the time.

It remains to be seen if Grohl will clarify his remarks or apologize, or if Swift will elaborate on his comments.  

Swift fans – dubbed Swifties – were quite unpleased with Grohl following the comments in London.

Some fans suggested that Grohl’s attack was partly fuelled by abuse faced by his daughter from Swifties – Taylor Swift’s fans.

Violet Grohl criticised Swift for flying between concert stops in a private jet.