Travis Kelce Says He and Taylor Swift Have 'Never Once' Had an Argument During Their 2.5 Year Relationship

New Heights/YouTube

NEED TO KNOW

• Travis Kelce says he and fiancée Taylor Swift have never argued in their 2.5-year relationship

• Kelce discussed relationships with George Clooney during the Dec. 3 episode of New Heights

• Clooney has claimed several times that he and his wife, Amal, have never had an argument in their 10 years together

ApparentlyTravis KelceandTaylor Swifthave a very peaceful love story.

The Kansas City Chiefs tight end, 36, made a surprising claim on the Wednesday, Dec. 3 episode of his podcast,New Heights, while interviewing guestGeorge Clooney.

When asking Clooney about his past claim that he and his wife,Amal Clooney, havenever gotten into an argumentin their 10 years together, Kelce had the script flipped on him by the Oscar winner, 64.

"No, I'm not lying," Clooney insisted. "Travis, shall we ask you the same questions?"

Kelce laughed at the reference to his fiancée, Swift, claiming, "Well, it's only been two and a half years, and you're right. I haven't gotten into an argument. Never once."

Karwai Tang/WireImage

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Clooney went on to explain that he and Amal don't see the point in arguing, noting, "Neither of us are gonna win the argument, so why get in? Dude, I'm 64 years old. And what am I gonna argue about at this point? You know? I've met this incredible woman that is, she's beautiful and smart, and she stands for all the most important things that I believe in in the world. And I can't believe how lucky I am. So what am I going to fight about?"

Clooney then told Travis and his older brother and co-presenter,Jason Kelce, that they could follow his example, and Travis admitted, "I am for sure. I'm just taking notes this whole time, big guy. You don't even know."

Gotham/GC Images

Kelce and Swift first got together in 2023 after Travis made a public complaint about not getting to meet the pop star at her Kansas City Eras tour show.Swift called the move "metal as hell"in aTimemagazine interview, and the pair have been together ever since. In August they shared the news that they areengaged.

Back in October,Swift opened up about her romancewith Travis, noting that their professional passions drive their relationship.

XNY/Star Max/GC Images

"That's the coolest thing about Travis, like he is so passionate about what he does, that me being passionate about what I do, it connects us," she shared on BBC Radio 2'sThe Scott Mills Breakfast Show."There's no point in time where he's gonna be like, 'I'm really upset that you're still making the music.' "

As for Travis, he shared that his romance with Swift felt very natural from the get-go.

"Nothing I've ever done has been a controlled, organized process,"Travis toldGQin August. "When I say it was so organic, we fell in love just based off the people we were sitting in a room together with."

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December 03, 2025

Travis Kelce Says He and Taylor Swift Have 'Never Once' Had an Argument During Their 2.5 Year Relationship

New Heights/YouTube NEED TO KNOW Travis Kelce says he and fiancée Taylor Swift have never argued in their 2.5-year relationship Kelce dis...

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Michelle Pfeiffer spills on what makes her holiday favorites list

She's a darn good actress, but there's only so muchMichelle Pfeiffercould do to get in the Christmas spirit during a sweltering Atlanta summer.

"When it's 110 degrees out, 90 percent humidity, all you're thinking about is why did I pick that wool sweater? How do I get cooled off so that my brain doesn't explode?" Pfeiffer laughs, describing her scorching time filming the holiday comedy"Oh. What. Fun." (streaming on Prime Videonow).

Certainly, things are much more festive on screen: The film stars Pfeiffer as Claire Clauster, a Texas mom who dreams of being a celebrated mother on her favorite daytime talk show. Not only do her husband (Denis Leary) and grown kids (Felicity Jones,Chloë Grace MoretzandDominic Sessa) forget to nominate her, though, they accidentally leave Claire behind on a family outing to a holiday dance performance that washeridea. A hurt Claire bolts for a solo road trip on Christmas Eve and leaves her loved ones to fend for themselves.

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"So many women, maybe all mothers, know what it's like to be the one who is keeping everything together, keeping everything running, keeping everything from derailing. We don't even think about it, we just do it," Pfeiffer says.

That led her to think about how there aren't anyChristmas filmsabout moms or women. "It's always about men, which is sort of odd," Pfeiffer says. "Women are really the glue to a lot of families, and moms go unappreciated and kind of unsung. I thought that was an interesting take."

The 67-year-old actress, whorecently became a grandmother, caught up with USA TODAY to chat about her upcoming Christmas film, "Oh. What. Fun.," and her holiday must-haves.

Question: Do you have a favorite memory of your mom from Christmases growing up?

Michelle Pfeiffer: We didn't grow up with a lot. Any gifts at all, honestly, we were grateful for. But when I was like 4 or 5, I remember my mother went out of her way to get me this one doll that I really wanted, and I didn't think that I was going to get it. I remember the look on her face when she saw the look on my face when I opened that gift. It just left a huge imprint on me.

Is "Oh. What. Fun." your first holiday film, or do you consider "Batman Returns" a Christmas movie?

Other people have asked me that. That never really occurred to me that "Batman Returns" was a Christmas movie, but it kind of is? So I guess this is my second.

What is your own personal recipe for a bona fide Christmas movie?

If there's a Christmas tree, that seems to be the criteria for people. (Laughs) The common theme is gratitude, really. Somehow over the holidays, by the end of it, you're feeling gratitude for something that you weren't, whether it's the gifts that you have in your life (or) the gift of another person in your life. It seems like that is the real spirit of a Christmas film.

There are quite a few references to other holiday classics in "Oh. What. Fun." For example, Claire's predicament is kind of a riff on "Home Alone." What is your personal favorite?

I love "It's a Wonderful Life." It's a beautiful film and always puts me in the feeling of Christmas. There's "A Charlie Brown Christmas," which we watched, of course, every year when the kids were growing up. (And) those weird little Claymation Christmas movies. Maybe we should watch those again this year because now my kids are adults, so we haven't really watched them in a while.

Cynthia Erivo takes flight again as the magical Elphaba in "Wicked: For Good." Check out our exclusive peeks at the anticipated movie musical sequel and all the other new films you need to see this holiday season in theaters and on streaming services.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> "Jay Kelly" (now in theaters, Dec. 5 on Netflix): A-list movie star Jay (George Clooney, far left) embarks on a reflective trip with his feisty publicist (Laura Dern) and loyal manager (Adam Sandler) in the meta dramedy.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> "Now You See Me: Now You Don't" (now in theaters): Justice Smith (far left), Ariana Greenblatt and Dominic Sessa play a trio of skilled illusionists recruited by Jack Wilder (Dave Franco) for a diamond heist in the magic-filled action threequel.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> "The Running Man" (now in theaters): In Edgar Wright's new take on Stephen King's dystopian thriller, a desperate father (Glen Powell) volunteers for the deadliest game show on TV where he'll win a billion dollars or die in the process.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> "Champagne Problems" (Nov. 19 on Netflix): Minka Kelly stars as an executive who ventures to France to acquire a popular champagne brand before Christmas and falls for the founder's son (Tom Wozniczka) in the holiday rom-com.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> "The Family Plan 2" (Nov. 21 on Apple TV): Ex-assassin Dan (Mark Wahlberg) and wife Jessica (Michelle Monaghan) have a planned European family vacation go awry when Dan's old enemy shows up in the action-comedy sequel.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> "Rental Family" (Nov. 21 in theaters): An American actor (Brendan Fraser, left) works for a company that hires him out to play roles in people's lives including as a journalist interviewing a Japanese film legend (Akira Emoto).

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> "Sisu: Road to Revenge" (Nov. 21 in theaters): Jorma Tommila reprises his role as a hard-to-kill ex-soldier who returns home and is pursued by the man who murdered his family in the action thriller sequel.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> "Train Dreams" (Nov. 21 on Netflix): The period drama stars Joel Edgerton as a reserved lumberjack who helps to build the American railroad and meets a colorful cast of co-workers, but his job keeps him from his wife and young daughter.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> "Wicked: For Good" (Nov. 21 in theaters): The closer of Jon M. Chu's two-part movie musical features Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande as fugitive witch Elphaba and her torn bestie Glinda, who must work together to save Oz.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> "Eternity" (Nov. 26 in theaters): In the fantasy romantic comedy, Larry (Miles Teller) arrives in the afterlife and waits for his wife Joan (Elizabeth Olsen) to decide where to spend eternity, but someone else has been pining for her, too.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> "Hamnet" (Nov. 26 in theaters): Director Chloé Zhao's family drama centers on William Shakespeare (Paul Mescal) and his wife Agnes (Jessie Buckley), who navigate domestic issues and a gut-wrenching tragedy.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> "Jingle Bell Heist" (Nov. 26 on Netflix): To get a fresh start in their lives, a retail worker (Olivia Holt) and repairman (Connor Swindells) plan on robbing the upscale London department store where they work in the holiday rom-com.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> "Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery" (Nov. 26 in theaters, Dec. 12 on Netflix): Ace detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig, left) helps young priest Father Jud (Josh O'Connor) when he's accused of murder in Rian Johnson's third all-star mystery.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> "Zootopia 2" (Nov. 26 in theaters): The Disney animated sequel catches up with Judy Hopps (voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin, left) and Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman), who are now partners in the police force investigating a mysterious snake.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> "Left-Handed Girl" (Nov. 28 on Netflix): Nina Ye (left) and Shih-Yuan Ma (in mirror) play sisters who return to Taipei with their mom after several years of living in the countryside and struggle adapting to a new environment in the drama.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> "The Stringer: The Man Who Took the Photo" (Nov. 28 on Netflix): The documentary investigates if Nguyễn Thành Nghệ (right, with daughter Jannie Nguyễn), a freelance photographer during the Vietnam War, took the famous "Napalm Girl" photo and not the long-credited Associated Press photographer.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> "Troll 2" (Dec. 1 on Netflix): In the monster movie sequel, returning heroes are forced to deal with a gigantic creature nicknamed "Megatroll" when it's awakened and goes on a destructive rampage across Norway.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> "My Secret Santa" (Dec. 3 on Netflix): The holiday rom-com stars Alexandra Breckenridge as a single mom in need of a job who disguises herself as a man to nab a seasonal Santa gig at a luxury ski resort and falls for the hotel manager.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> "Oh. What. Fun." (Dec. 3 on Prime Video): In the holiday comedy, a Texas mom (Michelle Pfeiffer) who lives for Christmas is accidentally left behind – "Home Alone" style – for an important event by her family.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> "Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw" (Dec. 5 on Disney+): Greg (voiced by Aaron D. Harris, left) and his dad Frank (Chris Diamantopoulos) bond while attending a wilderness camp in the latest animated comedy based on Jeff Kinney's popular books.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> "The Family McMullen" (Dec. 5 on HBO Max): Ed Burns (above center) returns to write, direct and star in a sequel to the 1995 indie cult classic, which brings a family back to its Long Island home for reunions and romance.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> "Five Nights at Freddy's 2" (Dec. 5 in theaters): Vanessa (Elizabeth Lail) and Mike (Josh Hutcherson) again have to deal with the murderous animatronic animals of Freddy Fazbear's Pizza in the horror sequel.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> "Merv" (Dec. 10 in theaters): When beloved dog Merv begins to show signs of depression after their recent breakup, Anna (Zooey Deschanel) and her ex take him to a pet-friendly beach resort in Florida in the holiday comedy.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> "Ella McCay" (Dec. 12 in theaters): Ella (Emma Mackey, right), who's named governor of her home state when her mentor steps down, gets advice from her Aunt Helen (Jamie Lee Curtis) in the James L. Brooks political dramedy.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> "Goodbye June" (Dec. 12 in theaters, Dec. 24 on Netflix): Kate Winslet marks her directorial debut and also stars in this emotional Christmas drama about siblings reuniting for one last holiday season with their dying mother.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> "Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour | The Final Show" (Dec. 12 on Disney+): A companion to a new six-part docuseries, the concert film captures the last show of Taylor Swift's record-breaking Eras Tour in Vancouver.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> "Avatar: Fire and Ash" (Dec. 19 in theaters): New antagonist Varang (Oona Chaplin) is the fierce leader of the Ash People in James Cameron's sci-fi adventure, which catches up with Jake Sully and his family on Pandora.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> "The Housemaid" (Dec. 19 in theaters): Based on the Freida McFadden novel, the psychological thriller stars Sydney Sweeney (left) as the new live-in housemaid for a wealthy wife (Amanda Seyfried) – a dream gig that turns into a nightmare.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> "Is This Thing On?" (Dec. 19 in theaters): The dramedy stars Will Arnett (center, with Bradley Cooper and Andra Day) as a middle-aged dad who finds a new and therapeutic hobby when he signs up for an open mic comedy night.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> "The SpongeBob Movie: Search For SquarePants" (Dec. 19 in theaters): The animated comedy adventure finds SpongeBob (voiced by Tom Kenny, left) on a quest where he runs afoul of the villainous Flying Dutchman (Mark Hamill).

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> "The Plague" (Dec. 24 in theaters): Joel Edgerton (center) stars in the coming-of-age psychological thriller as a coach at a water polo summer camp where the youngsters bully and turn on each other, leading to a violent outburst.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> "Anaconda" (Dec. 25 in theaters): The action comedy stars Jack Black (center) and Paul Rudd as best friends who venture to the jungle in a mission to find a gigantic snake for a remake of their favorite movie.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> "Marty Supreme" (Dec. 25 in theaters): In the 1950s-set sports dramedy, Timothy Chalamet (right, with director Josh Safdie) stars as a shoe-selling ping-pong ace who dreams of becoming a world champion.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> "No Other Choice" (Dec. 25 in theaters): Park Chan-wook's darkly comedic thriller stars Lee Byung-hun as a guy in the cutthroat paper industry who attempts to take out his competition for a new job.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> "Song Sung Blue" (Dec. 25 in theaters): Based on a true story, the musical drama follows a Vietnam vet (Hugh Jackman) who meets another struggling divorced musician (Kate Hudson) and they form a popular Neil Diamond tribute band.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> "The Testament of Ann Lee" (Dec. 25 in theaters): The historical musical drama stars Amanda Seyfried (center) as Ann Lee, who found followers and critics alike as the leader of the Shakers religious movement in the 18th century.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

From 'Zootopia 2' to 'Knives Out 3,' exclusive peeks at the holiday season's top movies

Cynthia Erivo takes flight again as the magical Elphaba in "Wicked: For Good." Check out our exclusive peeks at the anticipated movie musical sequel and all the other new films you need to see this holiday season in theaters and on streaming services.

Is there anything else, like a beloved holiday decoration or song, that you need to really kick December into high gear?

My dad refused to buy a real tree. They were expensive, and they were going to die. It made more sense to get a fake tree that you could use year after year, and it didn't make a mess and all those things (Laughs). I really, really wanted a real tree, and we never got one. The tree part is really important to me (now), and I love the ceremony of decorating it as a family, breaking out the eggnog and having Christmas carols.

Also, revisiting old ornaments you haven't seen in a year. What got broken since the year before? I don't know how, but they always do.

As 2025 comes to a close, how have you changed in the past year?

I'm increasingly aware of how precious life is the older you get, and you lose people, and you start realizing how finite it is. So I am, naturally, just really relishing the moments and the time I have and friends and family and what really is meaningful. My perspective is sort of shifting. You talk about what is meaningful. It's another thing to really start to live it and have it sort of driving you instead of your brain driving that notion. It's kind of wonderful.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:'Oh. What. Fun' star Michelle Pfeiffer has a classic holiday fave

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December 03, 2025

Michelle Pfeiffer spills on what makes her holiday favorites list

She's a darn good actress, but there's only so muchMichelle Pfeiffercould do to get in the Christmas spirit durin...

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Prince Harry Unexpectedly Crashes Meghan Markle's Netflix Holiday Special at the Perfect Moment

Jake Rosenberg/Netflix; Meghan, Duchess of Sussex/Instagram

NEED TO KNOW

• Prince Harry made a surprise appearance on the set of With Love, Meghan on Netflix

• The Duke of Sussex, 41, dropped in as his wife Meghan Markle cooked with Tom Colicchio

• Prince Harry previously appeared briefly in the season one finale of With Love, Meghan

Prince Harryknew just when to make a cameo inMeghan Markle's Netflix holiday special.

With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebrationpremiered on Netflix on Dec. 3, and the Duke of Sussex, 41, dropped onto the set just as Meghan was cooking her motherDoria Ragland's beloved Christmas Eve gumbo withTop ChefjudgeTom Colicchio.

As Meghan, 44, stirred the pot at the stove, Harry suddenly wandered into the kitchen with a breezy, "Hi, guys!" — and immediately leaned in to kiss his wife.

"I was like, there's somebody buzzing around! This is my husband," Meghan laughed as she introduced Harry to Colicchio. She explained she was "making my mom's gumbo," and Harry said he could tell by the scent alone.

Jake Rosenberg/Netflix

Meanwhile, Colicchio was assembling a salad full of Harry's least favorite ingredients — beets, black olives, fennel, anchovies and pickled vegetables — prompting the prince to deadpan, "Oh wow, that's like the anti-salad."

"Everything you hate," Colicchio teased back. (Earlier, Meghan had told him: "If I gave you the top things my husband hates to eat — beets is one of them, though he would call them beetroot as they say in England, black olives, fennel and pickled vegetables.")

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex/Instagram

Harry then revealed why he'd timed his cameo so perfectly: "You must have known that I was coming. And gumbo for me is like one of my favorites, especially her mom's. But before the fish goes in."

"She always saves a little portion on the side for him," Meghan noted of Doria's sweet tradition.

Kevin Mazur/Getty

When Harry tasted Meghan's slightly spicier version, his reaction was instant: "I can feel it puncturing through the top of my head!" — before admitting: "I'm not so sure it's as good as your mom's, but it's certainly close."

"What?! Oh my gosh," Meghan said, bursting into laughter. "Well, my mom will love you for that. You know what? What a good thing to say for your mother-in-law."

Elsewhere in the festive special, Meghan welcomes guests includingtennis champion Naomi Osaka, hospitality expert Will Guidara and close friendsKelly McKee ZajfenandLindsay Jill Rothfor holiday crafts, cooking and conversation.

Courtesy of Netflix

The special installment follows seasons one and two ofWith Love, Meghanon Netflix, which premiered earlier this year and showed Meghan share her longtime passions for cooking, creating, gardening and entertaining.

Harry's cameo marks a notable return for the Duke of Sussex, wholast appeared in the Season 1 finale ofWith Love, Meghan, but sat out Season 2. The holiday edition continues Meghan's expanding Netflix lifestyle franchise, following a headline-making 2025 that included her comeback to Instagram and the launch of her As Ever brand.

Courtesy of Netflix 2025

Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!

While appearing at Fortune's Most Powerful Women Summit in Washington, D.C. in October, Meghan was asked whether there would be a third season of her show.

"Well, the holiday special is coming out in November. It's a really good one," she said about what to expect.

With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebrationis now streaming on Netflix.

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December 03, 2025

Prince Harry Unexpectedly Crashes Meghan Markle's Netflix Holiday Special at the Perfect Moment

Jake Rosenberg/Netflix; Meghan, Duchess of Sussex/Instagram NEED TO KNOW Prince Harry made a surprise appearance on the set of With Love,...

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FDA scrutiny of WHOOP signals challenges for niche wearable device makers

(Corrects dateline to Dec 3)

By Puyaan Singh and Sneha S K

Dec 3 (Reuters) - Niche fitness-tracking firms such as WHOOP are coming under increased regulatory scrutiny as technological advances blur the lines between wearable and medical devices, exposing them to higher compliance costs ​and hampering their competitive advantage.

Although the U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulates certain health-focused tools in wearable devices such as smartwatches, many ‌companies have until now used a "regulatory gray zone" to bundle apps such as blood pressure monitors under advanced wellness features, without formal approvals.

However, the regulator has started to crack the ‌whip by making it clear that features such as blood pressure monitoring may be used by consumers to manage underlying health conditions and therefore would need its approval.

STRICTER NORMS TO RAISE COSTS

Stricter norms for wearable makers would mean increased investments, including higher spending on clinical and cybersecurity testing, upgraded quality-management systems, hardware or software redesigns and third-party audits.

This can potentially raise R&D costs and slow down launches for niche players such as WHOOP in a fast-growing $90 billion wearables ⁠market.

"What was once a land rush of health tech ‌innovation is now seeing the regulatory sheriff ride into town," said Michael Ashley Schulman, chief investment officer at Running Point Capital.

Companies must either limit functionality or embrace regulation, which could slow development and strain budgets, Schulman said, adding that ‍features like blood-oxygen estimation and heart-rhythm detection have pushed startups closer to what they considered to be the boundary of medical claims.

WHOOP has already come under the FDA's firing line.

The agency in July warned WHOOP that its blood-pressure insights feature made the company's wearable product look more like a medical device as it estimated systolic ​and diastolic values used in diagnosing hypertension.

WHOOP, when contacted by Reuters, said it disagrees with the FDA's stance.

"We continue to stand by Blood ‌Pressure Insights as a wellness feature designed to help members understand how blood pressure interacts with sleep, stress, exercise, and overall performance - not to diagnose or treat any medical condition," a WHOOP spokesperson said.

In contrast,Applerecently sought FDA clearance for its smartwatch's recent hypertension notification feature, which it says does not diagnose or manage hypertension.

That move could help shape regulatory precedent, said Ricky Bloomfield, medical chief of sleep-tracking ring maker Oura.

Josep Sola, co-founder of blood-pressure wristband maker Hilo, said the company spent years on approvals. He compared the addition of unvalidated clinical features to turning a car into a ⁠boat without testing it.

Incorrect high readings can create unnecessary anxiety, said Dr Francisco Jimenez-Lopez, ​Mayo Clinic's preventive cardiology division chair, adding "if it reads normal when blood pressure is high, ​the patient might have a stroke."

LONGER ROAD TO APPROVAL

Stakes are high as the market is booming. About 83.2 million U.S. consumers, or about 25% of the population, will use a health-related wearable monthly this year, according to eMarketer.

However, obtaining approval ‍can take 90 to 150 days, ⁠excluding clinical trials, data validation and documentation. Smaller firms may also need to hire regulatory specialists.

"For Apple or Samsung, that may be a trivial expense," said Gil Luria, head of tech research at D.A. Davidson, adding that startups would have a more limited ability to ⁠introduce products making a medical claim.

In September, the FDA sent out a wider warning to consumers about risks from unauthorized devices.

The agency can enforce compliance through warning letters, injunctions or ‌product seizures if companies fail to correct violations, said Andrew Nixon of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

(Reporting by ‌Puyaan Singh and Sneha S K in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D'Silva)

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December 03, 2025

FDA scrutiny of WHOOP signals challenges for niche wearable device makers

(Corrects dateline to Dec 3) By Puyaan Singh and Sneha S K Dec 3 (Reuters) - Niche fitness-tracking firms such ...

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