Taylor Swift premiered the “Patient Zero” music video at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday. Dakota Johnson and Colin Farrell star in the psychological thriller-inspired clip. The song is one of four tracks on the Sept. 25 encore edition of Swift’s 2025 album.
In the video, Johnson plays the wife of a wealthy businessman, portrayed by Farrell, who suspects her husband is manipulating and gaslighting her. Swift plays his former wife, an heiress whose character is revealed to have been killed by him; her ghost warns Johnson’s character to “run.” Cara Delevingne briefly appears as the woman Johnson’s character suspects of flirting with her husband.
Swift also became the VMAs’ most-awarded artist after receiving the inaugural Artist Director Honors. She won Video of the Year for “The Fate of Ophelia” and received 11 nominations at the 2026 ceremony; after the 2025 show, she and Beyoncé were tied at 30 wins.
