Over the weekend, singer and songwriter Taylor Swift opened up about her political views for the first time to fans and followers on social media. Swift posted a lengthy Instagram post, opening up about where she stands in the upcoming 2018 Midterm Elections.
In the past, many have dragged Swift for staying silent about politics, especially in an era of Donald Trump and the tole his Presidency has taken on the country. Now, Swift has decided to come forward and speak out against a Tennessee candidate for Senate that is “against” values she stands for. Swift said:
I’m writing this post about the upcoming midterm elections on November 6th, in which I’ll be voting in the state of Tennessee. 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 systemic 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. Please, please educate yourself on the candidates running in your state and vote based on who most closely represents your values. For a lot of us, we may never find a candidate or party with whom we agree 100% on every issue, but we have to vote anyway.
So many intelligent, thoughtful, self-possessed people have turned 18 in the past two years and now have the right and privilege to make their vote count. But first you need to register, which is quick and easy to do. October 9th is the LAST DAY to register to vote in the state of TN. Go to vote.org and you can find all the info. Happy Voting!
While many fans were happy to see Swift speaking her mind and standing up for, what they believe, is the right cause, there were others who were outraged and unhappy to see their “idol” and “role model” speaking out against their own political views. Swift has a very large fan base in the south, and many of those fans are GOP and Republican Party supporters. Having Swift speak out against their party has caused mass outrage no social media.
Additionally, Swift is wrapping up her Reputation Tour, and, many of these fans spend hundreds of dollars to go see her live in concert–many of them saying they “can’t believe they spent so much money to go see someone like her.”
Now, Twitter users are calling Swift shady, petty, and savage for waiting until after her tour to open up about her political stance–saying she “cashed in” on those MAGA supporters, and then dragged them to the grave.
taylor swift getting political after finishing the us leg of her tour… she took that maga money and said fuck republican lives pic.twitter.com/viONd0GgWv
— COL•IN (@colinshram) October 7, 2018
I love my shady calculated strategic Sagittarius sister taylor swift who took republican coin for 10+ years before finally doing her grand political hannah montana reveal on them. That was a CLASSIC…. they’re broke now bc of a powerful liberal. Her mind pic.twitter.com/ZtrPHkQ3OK
— lindsey is sad but at least taylor is a liberal ???? (@tobejustrees) October 8, 2018
Taylor Swift revealing her political views as soon as she finished her US leg of her tour is the Smartest move ever she took all the MAGA supporters money and then Boom… Lmao Her Mind pic.twitter.com/ZVQ95q4cHv
— realbhadbee® (@LaminbeeIV) October 8, 2018
taylor swift logging into her instagram account to post about her political views after snatching the republican fans’ money during the rep tour pic.twitter.com/anrwRUgrUZ
— ray???? (@kimlipecIipse) October 8, 2018
FRIDAY:Taylor was the first artist to perform 2 consecutive nights at AT&T stadium
SATURDAY:Taylor finished the U.S Leg of The Reputation Stadium Tour
SUNDAY:Taylor voices her political opinion on IG/stands up for equal rights for EVERYONE
GIRL HAD A WEEKEND @taylorswift13
— Ashley King(REP TOUR 22 TIMES????????♀️????) (@Ashzash) October 8, 2018
Taylor Swift is petty ass bitch & I live for every minute of it. She really finessed tons of these yeehaw bitches in their own states till she sold every last ticket in NA???? Ugh her mind and now I’m really wondering if she’s gonna make some visual political statement at the AMas https://t.co/c9ZwpNMdsO
— Rosalinde Antindi (@NewRosalinde_A) October 7, 2018
facebook republicans are losing their minds over taylor swift taking a political stance
‘I’m disgusted I let my daughter go to your concert Friday!’ pic.twitter.com/86IckgFpCm
— shy dannie (@bojackchavez) October 8, 2018
Taylor Swift waited until her US tour was over to announce her political affiliation and that’s a sneaky bitch I can get behind pic.twitter.com/VbyGJK7T8j
— Marissa (@marissacrenwlge) October 8, 2018
taylor swift finally speaking up about her political views after her stadium tour ended so she could snatch the republicans’ money is honestly such a power move
— veronika (@chloegirI) October 8, 2018
taylor swift gets political for the first time after finishing her US tour… took that MAGA money and ran ???????????? pic.twitter.com/KsmPuiYUlB
— em???? (@emkibler) October 7, 2018
Gotta respect Taylor Swift for voicing her political beliefs at the end of her North American tour. She snatched all of that republican fan $$$$ and then dropped this and they’re probably…so angry. pic.twitter.com/khgNvchhog
— ???? emily GHOULins ???? (@emilycolIins) October 8, 2018
Let’s be honest, most celebrities have a calculated agenda they use when making a stance like this. All of these GOP supporters are here praising Kanye West for his MAGA-supporting nonsensical rants, but are telling Taylor Swift to pipe down and stick to singing.