Taylor Swift Breaks Political Silence, Denounces Marsha Blackburn

[iCpro 14,846]

1 hour ago, Ziggy said:

Eh. I dislike that she's doing it *now* specifically. Yes, the midterms matter but where tf was she when people were associating her with Trump? It's not like she could have *not* known and she could have even issued a statement wishing to remain out of the political conversation. There was more she could have done while maintaining her privacy. She really does have enormous influence with young girls and I think to not speak up when someone is as repugnant and as much a women abuser as him is up for the White House is legitimately appalling (especially when you're being linked to him). I'm not saying that she or any celebrity *has* to voice their opinion, but since she did, why now? I don't like when people say "ohp better late than never" as if we should all be happy that she finally decided to vocally express support for her fans. No, sometimes it is very harmful to be late. She was late and shouldn't get some massive outpouring of support and pat on the back when her delay has been actively detrimental to the LGBT community, women, and other marginalized groups for the past 2 years. I understand some will say, "Things like that keep people from supporting the community!" So we have to once again stay silent as a minority group so she, a privileged individual, will like us and support us? No. I don't think it's a lot to ask that we be given respect by her or any ally. They are supposed to be our ally not us hers (something that gets warped a lot in stan culture). I don't want her head, but an apology to those her apathy has hurt would be nice and suffice imo. Again, no, she did not have to voice her opinion but since she now has the terms have changed.

 

I'm happy that she voiced support finally, but I'm not going to run in line behind another affluent white women who finally decided she could give time to something that matters. It's telling that the majority of people (not speaking about GGD) applauding this are as apolitical as you could possibly get and also have enormous privileges that they remain largely ignorant of. I applaud her doing her research on the voting records, though. It's a wonderful thing to stay informed and it's nice that she articulated and elaborated on her new stance.

 

Sidenote: I remember everyone getting pissed at Katy Perry for getting the HRC award when "she hasn't done anything" and yet people are screaming "Yass Taylor!" for doing the absolute bare minimum of public support. I would say neither are particularly stellar gay icons, but let's at least keep the standard the same across the board.

I think it’s probably because denouncing a senate candidate is a much safer bet than denouncing the president imo. Most people outside of TN won’t know who she is, so it’s not likely to make headlines/get people riled up. However if she were to denounce Trump at any point she would risk losing a large part of her fan base, not necessarily Trumpsters but also people who don’t like politics. Especially considering how she’s become infamous for her political apathy, it would make headlines around the world if she said anything against Trump.

I think this is a good starting point for her. It’s not quite Gaga on Colbert or De Niro’s Tonys speech in terms of celeb outspokenness, but it’s something.

However I am happy to see that she is an active an informed voter, it’s soo important not only to vote but to know who you’re voting for and what they will do/have done.

[Epione 10,896]

She’s 28 and started speaking only now. It is kinda pathetic. Remember when Gaga was 24 and what she did. 

[diamondheartxx 176]

I'm glad she did this, prior to this I always saw her as a white feminist, but it's nice that she's finally acknowledging LGBT+ and POC issues.

But idk why people are already making her out to be a woke legend, this is only the beginning

She's performing IDSB at the Ama's tomorrow, an unapologetic song about being a scapegoat. I hope she makes it as political as possible.

[Whispering 18,865]

9 hours ago, MonsterAura said:

Ugh why does everyone have to get political 😩 Entertainers have forgotten what we love and need them for - entertaining. 

I think it’s a sad world when only listening to a particular artist feels like a political statement. Music is supposed to bring people together. To forget differences, not highlight them. 

I have so much more respect for an artist who remains apolitical and doesn’t use their political stance for publicity. 

 

Because they are human beings with opinions and care about what is happening in their country. They have just as much of a right to voicing their opinion as you do. Being famous does not erase your right to have political statements. 

 

Then you should follow those types of artists. It certainly won't be Gaga. 

[holy scheisse 22,275]

17 hours ago, Aquarius said:

miss swift SNAPPED, ha political era is coming 

Honestly hope so would be a nice turn for her to step away from love songs and do something different!

[ZiggyZiggs 30,062]

16 hours ago, Shipper said:

What,  is she really?  Or is this a joke.  I don't know much about her. 

i mean no one can tell for sure except for taylor herself but, the rumor in the industry is that she's gay/bi

[Ziggy 11,870]

3 hours ago, iCpro said:

I think it’s probably because denouncing a senate candidate is a much safer bet than denouncing the president imo. Most people outside of TN won’t know who she is, so it’s not likely to make headlines/get people riled up. However if she were to denounce Trump at any point she would risk losing a large part of her fan base, not necessarily Trumpsters but also people who don’t like politics. Especially considering how she’s become infamous for her political apathy, it would make headlines around the world if she said anything against Trump.

I think this is a good starting point for her. It’s not quite Gaga on Colbert or De Niro’s Tonys speech in terms of celeb outspokenness, but it’s something.

However I am happy to see that she is an active an informed voter, it’s soo important not only to vote but to know who you’re voting for and what they will do/have done.

Oh I perfectly understand why she didn’t speak up, but that very reason makes me pause before praising her now. As you’ve said, she’s staking very little by speaking up now so her choosing now to ally with minority groups feels opportunistic rather than genuine. I also have a hunch her team decided this was okay because Kanye is getting so much backlash for his opinion that her stating hers, even if not in direct response, inadvertently will make others look more fondly upon her as “oh look, this celebrity doing good”. You know?

 

I don’t want an ally who uses us when it’s convenient/makes for a good photo op or press. I want an ally who is willing to put their neck out to protect when they can. To me, anything less isn’t being an ally because it’s telling me that you don’t actually care.

[MonsterAura 548]

53 minutes ago, Whispering said:

Because they are human beings with opinions and care about what is happening in their country. They have just as much of a right to voicing their opinion as you do. Being famous does not erase your right to have political statements. 

 

Then you should follow those types of artists. It certainly won't be Gaga. 

Of course they have that right, that’s not even remotely what I’m saying.

I just think entertainers have an important role in society, to cheer us up during dark times. I think every single artist taking a strong political stance contributes (in part) to the polarization is all.

People need a distraction, and the list of artists who provide that is getting shorter and shorter. 

But it is absolutely within their right to voice whatever opinion they want, you are 100% right about that. 

Edit: and there IS a time and a place to get political, it can even be great since artists have a lot of influence. But not every artist, all the time. I just don’t think that’s the best way of bringing people together. 

[StrawberryBlond 14,881]

I find her timing suspect and it's undeniable that she thought this is exactly what the world wants to hear at such a crucial time and she just gave them what they wanted. But it is admirable that she is starting to speak out after all this time and being specific about what she believes in. I wouldn't normally say that anyone needs to make their political views public (I crave the time when we didn't, actually) but in Taylor's case...she's being idolised as a great Aryan role model by Neo-Nazis. When these are some of your supporters, you have to speak up and denounce them. And that's something that she still hasn't done which is bizarre. Not saying she's on their side but you'd think that slamming Nazis would hardly be a controversial move that could lose fans, right? So why doesn't she say anything about that?

1 hour ago, diamondheartxx said:

I'm glad she did this, prior to this I always saw her as a white feminist, but it's nice that she's finally acknowledging LGBT+ and POC issues.

Just want to say that you can support POC without mentioning them in every political moment. I show my support for many causes quietly and just speak up when I need to. Just because I don't highlight every one of them specifically every time I talk about politics doesn't mean I don't care about them. I'm a people pleaser who wants to include everyone, so I'm a lot more general. I think when you choose to be overly specific, it can make the others in that group feel like they don't matter or make those not in that group who have gone through the same issues that you're speaking of, feel underrepresented and it's like you're denying they endure the same things.

[weed 73,926]

6 hours ago, Ziggy said:

Sidenote: I remember everyone getting pissed at Katy Perry for getting the HRC award when "she hasn't done anything" and yet people are screaming "Yass Taylor!" for doing the absolute bare minimum of public support. I would say neither are particularly stellar gay icons, but let's at least keep the standard the same across the board.

One is receiving an award from a humanitarian organization and the other is an instagram post on their personal account lol if Taylor was receiving the same award I would be annoyed as well despite Yassss-ing at this post 

[wahkeenasitka 1,995]

Good girl, Taylor. Finally making an actual statement. 

Considering that your fans are the most basic of mainstream, white bread, super conservative Republicans - I hope that this post had a real impact and made people actually think. 

Not that I will ever listen to your music. 

[wahkeenasitka 1,995]

10 hours ago, MonsterAura said:

Ugh why does everyone have to get political 😩 Entertainers have forgotten what we love and need them for - entertaining. 

I think it’s a sad world when only listening to a particular artist feels like a political statement. Music is supposed to bring people together. To forget differences, not highlight them. 

I have so much more respect for an artist who remains apolitical and doesn’t use their political stance for publicity. 

 

I COMPLETELY DISAGREE. 

I believe it is absolutely the responsibility of people who have a big name and huge followings & influence to make meaningful, impactful statements like this. 

How many people, for example, who watched Gaga's statement on Colbert last week and were finally coming to the realization that Wow. Gaga is AMAZING. Multiple friends on Facebook last week were completely stunned and made comments to me about "Wow, You've been right about her for all these years and I'm just now finally coming to the realization that this Lady Gaga woman is actually an amazing human being." Or another one of my friends who responded, "She is a class act." And this is in response to her political statements. People actually respect people who stand up against injustice and demand change. 

[alestevens 118]

5 hours ago, iCpro said:

I think it’s probably because denouncing a senate candidate is a much safer bet than denouncing the president imo. Most people outside of TN won’t know who she is, so it’s not likely to make headlines/get people riled up.

I see what you mean but this is Taylor Swift we're talking off, this was a global trending topic, a top story at CNN, TIME Magazine, New York Times and was discussed on Fox News as well nnnn

[ShockPop 7,747]

Her next album... eek.

[Whispering 18,865]

10 hours ago, MonsterAura said:

Of course they have that right, that’s not even remotely what I’m saying.

I just think entertainers have an important role in society, to cheer us up during dark times. I think every single artist taking a strong political stance contributes (in part) to the polarization is all.

People need a distraction, and the list of artists who provide that is getting shorter and shorter. 

But it is absolutely within their right to voice whatever opinion they want, you are 100% right about that. 

Edit: and there IS a time and a place to get political, it can even be great since artists have a lot of influence. But not every artist, all the time. I just don’t think that’s the best way of bringing people together. 

Music artists have never been there to primarily "cheer people up". Music is art and art has many purposes. 

If you need a distraction from your music artists, and nothing else, select artists who will give you what you need. 

The responsibility of "bringing people together" does not lie with music artists, but with the politicians we elect. Artists are citizens, like everyone else. Policies impact them, their family and their friends...just like the rest of us.