Charissa Thompson looked glamorous at Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s star-studded wedding, but her sparkling gown came with a painful hidden cost. The Fox Sports broadcaster revealed that the sharp prongs securing the jewels on her dress repeatedly cut into her skin while she danced at the couple’s July 3 celebration inside Madison Square Garden. By the end of the evening, Thompson’s forearms were bleeding, and her boyfriend Steve Cundari’s expensive tuxedo had also sustained damage.
Thompson discussed the fashion disaster on Thursday’s episode of her “Calm Down” podcast with fellow sportscaster Erin Andrews, who also attended the wedding. The broadcaster wore a heavily embellished Valdrin Sahiti gown covered with individual gems. “The prongs were holding in all of the individual jewels,” Thompson recalled.
Although she loved the completed look, its weight and sharp hardware became increasingly uncomfortable as the night continued. “And the dress was super heavy and I loved the way it looked and everything. However, halfway through the night, I’m looking down and my forearms are bleeding. Bleeding,” she revealed.
The injuries apparently occurred while Thompson was dancing, as the repeated movement caused the sharp pieces of metal to rub against and cut her skin. She explained that the prongs were “slicing [her skin] open” throughout the celebration.
Gown Also Damaged Her Boyfriend’s Tuxedo
Thompson was not the only person affected by the elaborate dress. The jewels also repeatedly caught on Cundari’s tuxedo as the pair danced together. “Each prong would grab a little bit of his tuxedo,” Thompson explained. “You know when you get a run in [your] pantyhose? And that just pulls?”
The broadcaster joked that her entrepreneur boyfriend had been “excited about his tux,” making its condition by the end of the wedding particularly unfortunate. She acknowledged that she now owes him a replacement. “By the end of the night, I’m seeing these strings all over. My arms are bleeding. But it’s worth it!” Thompson said.
She described the damage as one of the “occupational hazards of getting on the dance floor in a dress that was not meant to get down like that [in].” Despite the discomfort, Thompson continued enjoying the reception rather than allowing the wardrobe problem to end her evening.
Erin Andrews Chose A Backless Gucci Gown
Thompson said she and Andrews “were very, very mindful” while deciding what to wear to Swift and Kelce’s wedding. The women were also “very much concerned about how the dresses would hold up” throughout the ceremony and reception.
Andrews ultimately selected a backless black Gucci halter gown that avoided the sharp embellishments responsible for Thompson’s injuries. “Your back looked great,” Thompson told her co-host. “You don’t wear that dress if you haven’t down some back exercises, some pulldowns.”
Both women earned attention for their wedding fashion, although only Thompson ended the night with cuts on her arms and an unexpected bill for a damaged tuxedo.
Sportscasters Call The Wedding ‘Magical’
The gown disaster did not diminish Thompson’s opinion of the wedding. She and Andrews agreed that Swift and Kelce’s ceremony was “magical,” with Thompson saying the celebration served as a powerful reminder about finding the right partner.
“Watching them get married, I’m like, when you find your person, everything else in the world is right,” Thompson said. “That night and that weekend really was a reminder that you can have everything in the world. And if you don’t have the person to share it with, then it’s not worth anything,”
Thompson then addressed the newlyweds directly. “So congratulations to both of you. Thank you for including us in your special weekend. We love you both so much,” she said.
Taylor Swift And Travis Kelce’s Romance Began In The NFL Spotlight
Swift and Kelce announced their engagement the previous summer after dating publicly for nearly two years. Their romance first became public when Swift attended a Kansas City Chiefs game at Arrowhead Stadium on September 24, 2023. She watched from a VIP suite before leaving the stadium with Kelce following the Chiefs’ victory.
Swift subsequently became a regular presence at Chiefs games when her Eras Tour schedule allowed. She even traveled from Japan to Las Vegas to watch Kelce win the Super Bowl. Kelce returned that support by attending numerous Eras Tour performances across multiple continents, including shows in South America, Australia, Asia, Europe and North America. He also made an onstage cameo during one of Swift’s London concerts.
The relationship eventually culminated in their Madison Square Garden wedding, which brought together approximately 1,000 relatives, friends and celebrities.
