When Zoë Kravitz Lost a Snake—and Taylor Swift’s Bathroom Paid the Price
Friendship, wildfires, and a slippery snake: it’s a story that reads almost too improbable to believe—but Zoë Kravitz made it very real on Late Night with Seth Meyers on August 12, 2025. What started as temporary refuge during the L.A. wildfires turned into a bathroom disaster of epic—and oddly charming—proportions.
A Safe Haven Turns Chaotic
Earlier this year, wildfires erupted across Los Angeles, forcing many residents to evacuate. Among them were actress-director Zoë Kravitz and her mother, Lisa Bonet. In search of safety, they took shelter in the Beverly Hills home of none other than pop superstar Taylor Swift—a trusted friend who had repeatedly shown grace and generosity. Page Six+15InStyle+15TheWrap+15Yahoo News+1
For two weeks, the stay was serene. Kravitz loved the character of the 1930s-era house—a space she described as “something you want to preserve and take care of” The Daily Beast+7InStyle+7Yahoo News+7. She was determined to be the perfect guest, leaving “no trace” of their stay behind. But of course, fate—and a snake named Orpheus—had other plans.
The Great Snake Escape
On their last day, as Kravitz busied herself preparing to head back to work, her mother was upstairs in the bathroom when Orpheus—Lisa’s pet snake—slithered away. According to Kravitz’s comic récité, the snake found a tiny hole in the corner of the bathroom adjacent to a built-in banquette: “It found this little hole in the corner,” she recalled. The Sun+11Marie Claire+11Cosmopolitan+11
Lisa was crouched in the corner, clutching the snake’s tail, while Zoë rushed upstairs to help. The snake, powerful and muscular, was already disappearing into the wall’s void—as Kravitz put it, “panicking” seemed the only appropriate reaction. The Independent+3Marie Claire+3NME+3
Bathroom Versus Snake: A Gutsy Choice
With the snake vanishing into the wall, there were two undesirable options: let it disappear or tear up the bathroom. Kravitz, seeing the scale of the potential havoc, decided on the latter. She called the house manager, who arrived armed with a crowbar. Overcome by urgency, they began dismantling part of the banquette—and with it, the bathroom’s elegant finishings. Tiles were ripped up, walls were scratched, and precious vintage craftsmanship was sacrificed, all in pursuit of one scaly guest. Economic Times+14TheWrap+14Bustle+14
“It was either destroy her bathroom or tell her that there’s a snake somewhere in her house,” Kravitz told Seth Meyers—both a confession and a declaration of intent. Yahoo+15Bustle+15Yahoo News+15
The Moment of Truth—and a Laugh
Once Orpheus was safely retrieved, Kravitz sheepishly contacted Swift: “Hey—I wanted to talk to you about something,” she recounted, voice “very high,” she joked. Swift’s response was perfectly trademarked: “Is it the fact that you almost lost a snake in my house and destroyed my bathroom?” currently.att.yahoo.com+9InStyle+9NBC+9
Much like a plot twist in one of her own songs, Swift’s reaction was to embrace the chaos with good humor—proving that their friendship could weather, well, anything.
Friendship Forged in Reptilian Fire
This isn’t the first time Kravitz and Swift have demonstrated the strength of their bond. The two became especially close during the London lockdown in 2020, supporting one another through isolation and long-distance challenges. Kravitz once called Swift her “pod”—a source of comfort and stability during uncertain times. InStyle+1
Over the years, their friendship extended into artistic realms. Kravitz contributed background vocals to “Lavender Haze” on Swift’s Midnights album and has been a featured guest at moments like the Eras Tour and her post-show rituals. Architectural Digest+4Page Six+4Bustle+4
Lessons from the Snake Saga
What makes this tale especially memorable is how it crystallizes the tension between personal responsibility and wild unpredictability. Kravitz valued the home’s integrity and privacy—but when faced with the possibility of a rolling reptile in the walls, necessity overrode decorum.
It’s also a testament to trust. Swift let her friend and her mother take refuge in her home—uncertain, unsafe, but grounded in trust. And when things went sideways—,really sideways—Grace was the response, rather than resentment. That’s friendship.
A Snapshot for the Ages
In a few simple lines on a late-night talk show, Zoë Kravitz conjured up a vivid scene: a 1930s Beverly Hills bathroom turned war zone, tiles ripped free, a snake named Orpheus wriggling into a mystery hole, a crowbar in desperate hands, and laughter at the end.
It’s bizarre, hilarious, slightly horrifying—and indelibly human.
