Professor 'cancels' midterm exam to announce Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's engagement in viral video

KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE: A video of a college professor canceling a midterm exam so his students could celebrate Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s engagement is spreading quickly online.

In the clip, the teacher announces that the test is off because he cannot focus, adding that his students must be feeling the same emotions. It was later revealed to be a staged classroom moment.

Matthew Pittman’s classroom skit on Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce goes viral

The video shows associate professor Matthew Pittman of the Tombras School of Advertising and Public Relations in Knoxville, Tennessee, standing before his class.

“We have a biochem midterm today, but Taylor and Travis just got engaged. Due to this information, I can’t focus, you all can’t focus, class is cancelled, get out of here,” Pittman says in the clip. Students immediately cheer and rush out of the room. 

One student is seen hurrying toward the classroom door before others get up and walk out.

An Instagram user shared the moment with the caption, “Bio chem sucks, but our professor rocks. Congrats, Travis and Taylor.”

Matthew Pittman says video was a staged pop culture lesson

The Tombras School in Knoxville, Tennessee, later clarified in a follow-up post that the viral moment was staged by Matthew Pittman to connect with his students.

"Taylor & Travis isn’t just celebrity news, it’s a lesson on social influence & media strategy! Associate Professor @matthewcpittman breaks it down… and even turns it into a class skit," the Tombras School posted on X.

In the video, which was also shared on Instagram, Tombras wrote: "Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married… just kidding 😉 But Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are, and we’ve got the ADPR take!"

They added, "Associate Professor Matthew Pittman, who studies social influence, cognition, and all things social media, breaks down the engagement from an advertising and PR perspective 👏 Watch how he connects this pop culture moment to the classroom (yes, including a skit at the end 🎭)."

Pittman added that Swift and Kelce’s engagement was significant beyond the music and sports worlds, calling it a major moment for advertising and cultural conversations.

“This is pretty big news,” Pittman said. He added that their announcement post would likely become the “number one shared post in the history of social media.” He continued, “It's gonna be everywhere for a long time. This is gonna be crazy."

Internet says Matthew Pittman 'deserves a wedding invite'

The skit sparked a flood of online reactions, with viewers praising Matthew Pittman’s humor.

“He deserves a wedding invite,” one person commented on Instagram. Another joked, “The guy in orange up front was already running out 😂.”

“And just like that, he became the favorite professor,” another user wrote. On X, one person reacted, “This can't be real.”

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