>>987,991 This is called apophasis: mentioning something by saying you won't mention it. Cicero used the shit out of it during the Philippics and the Pro Caelio. Cucumberbitch must be a classical scholar. :/

I love that he mentions it to, seemingly, deny the constructed nature of this relationship and how it was present to the public, but really does TH a disservice by bringing it up at all. Those who didn't believe are reminded of his frankly terrible behavior during Tayto. Those who believed - Swifties - accuse him of using the relationship and her for publicity. Naked in a thorn bush - no move is a good move.