California dad goes viral watching monitor, not Taylor Swift at show

FRESNO, Calif. (KMPH) — Michael Johnson of Hanford hoped to create amazing memories with his 14-year-old daughter, Ally, at Taylor Swift’s “Eras Tour” earlier this month.

He succeeded—and then some.

He wound up going viral on TikTok.

“I have always told her I’d help her TikToks if she put me in more. Now, I have verifiable proof,” joked Johnson.

Ally describes herself as a life-long “Swiftie” – the term used to describe Taylor Swift’s fans.

“My older sister listened to her music,” says the 14-year-old.

Once the Eras Tour was announced, Ally says she didn’t want to miss it.

“I even got the Capitol One card,” says Johnson, referring to the card that allowed access to special, pre-sale tickets.

After they got their tickets, Ally went into planning mode – for her outfit, AND her dad’s.

“Mine was themed after [Swift’s] album, Lover. His was themed around the song, Mirrorball,” Ally said. “I bought his outfit three months before the concert.”

“It is sparkly and gets a lot of attention,” Johnson says, referring to the silver sequin-like top she asked him to wear, paired with pink jeans. “She kept saying, ‘Come on, dad! Come on, dad!’” Johnson says.

The outfit proved eye-catching.

Enough, the prompt TikTok user Amalie Williams to record Johnson, as he watched the concert— from the monitor behind his seat, rather than the show on the stage in front of him.

A look of concentration on his face.

The nine-second video has now been viewed more than 17 million times.

“They were doing different things on the back screen. I don’t know why I turned around,” Johnson said. “Many people have told me, ‘Hey, you look bored.’ ‘You look this.’ ‘You look that.’ I was having a great time.”

Comments to the video range from “His outfit is serving” to “Like he watching the news” and “I love his sparkles. We love a supporting king!”

Ally is loving the recognition of her dad.

“I've had a lot of people come up to me and say, ‘Oh, my God. I saw your dad on my TikTok,’” she says.

He says it’s been a blast to hear from people he hasn’t spoken with in years— including old fellow softball parents and fraternity brothers.

"Really, we just went to a concert to have a good time and it's amazing how fast things can catch on,” Johnson says. “I think it's great that we were trying to make a memory and we've solidified that. We will never forget this experience now in a million years!”