For years, Taylor Swift has played a neutral political game, probably as to not alienate any of her fans. Let’s be real, Taylor Swift started out as a country singer, so it seems pretty probable that she has many fans who lean right. In fact, up until this week, she’s kind of been a bit of a darling for the right side.
I say up until this week, because as of two days ago, Taylor Swift decided to stop playing in the middle and announce where she stands politically. And unlike the title of her best album, it ain’t red.
Taylor took to Instagram to prove that she really is the anti-Kanye West by announcing her current allegiance to the Democratic Party by denouncing the Republican Party’s nominee in Tennessee, where she’ll be voting. Taylor wrote:
In the past I’ve been reluctant to publicly voice my political opinions, but due to several events in my life and in the world in the past two years, I feel very differently about that now. I always have and always will cast my vote based on which candidate will protect and fight for the human rights I believe we all deserve in this country. I believe in the fight for LGBTQ rights, and that any form of discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender is WRONG. I believe that the systematic racism we still see in this country towards people of color is terrifying, sickening and prevalent. I cannot vote for someone who will not be willing to fight for dignity for ALL Americans, no matter their skin color, gender or who they love. Running for senate in the state of Tennessee is a woman named Marsha Blackburn. As much as I have in the past and would like to continue voting for women in office, I cannot support Marsha Blackburn. Her voting record in congress appalls and terrifies me. She voted against equal pay for women. She voted against the Reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, which attempts to protect women from domestic violence, stalking, and date rape. She believes businesses have a right to refuse service to gay couples. She also believes they should not have the right to marry. These are not MY Tennessee values. I will be voting for Phil Bredesen for Senate and Jim Cooper for House of Representatives.
Right away, Donald Trump, a man who constantly mocks the Hollywood elite, but never misses a beat when responding to every single thing they fucking do, Tweeted that he liked Taylor Swift’s music 25% less now (how did he even come up with that percentage???) and many Republicans were quick to Tweet that Swift had just ended her career. In reality, voter registration in Tennessee skyrocketed after Swift’s post so I guess only time will tell if Swift had any effect on people with her statement.
All I know is that a year ago I was pro-Kanye and anti-Taylor, and now that’s completely switched around. 2018 is a wild fucking time, man.