My parasocial relationship with Taylor Swift began when I was born.
My mom would sing me “Never Grow Up” as a lullaby, my CD collection started when “reputation” came out, I watched grainy livestreams of “The Eras Tour” in my living room. I’m pretty much the textbook definition of a Swiftie (which I learned at 13 years old is what Taylor Swift fans call themselves). With every era, vinyl drop, and easter egg, she built palaces in my mind that gave me something to travel to during my lowest of moments.
As I grew up I became more aware of the world around me and just how much I wanted to change it. I believed as a lower middle class child that my voice could be heard but not one that people would gravitate towards politically. It was around this time that Taylor Swift was in her “Lover” era, a time when she was proudly preaching support for queer people and fighting against the patriarchy.
The 2020s have been centered around people’s need for those with power to speak up and for those with billions of dollars to give back to the people. There was a push among people my age to put pressure on those groups of people to help those in need. Many people were gravitating towards Taylor Swift. She was an established pop artist who people trusted, and she had donated money to GLAAD and RAINN. People like me supported and appreciated her using her voice for good.
In all honesty, her activeness as a political advocate has dwindled over the past 4 years. Many, many major events have happened which include, but are not limited to: 303 anti-transgender bills being passed, an increase in taxes for the middle class and below, and the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Swift remains silent about these issues.
It’s so confusing, in her post endorsing Kamala Harris, she talks about her fears around AI and how she doesn’t wanna be misconstrued as a Republican, but when a majority of her liberal audience is questioning rather a whole era of her life came from the heart, suddenly there’s nothing left to speak up about.
She does not owe anyone anything. That’s a fact. But when you base a large chunk of your public persona and career as a queer advocate, you give yourself expectations that need to be met continuously past the era in which it’s relevant with who you are as a performer. As a fan, her actions right now have made her activism look performative.
The main argument against my claim is that it’s a safety issue, that she donates privately, and that artists like Charli xcx and Olivia Rodrigo have more vinyls released per album than Taylor Swift, and in all honesty those arguments are true. Their main comparisons, Charli xcx and Olivia Rodrigo are outspoken with their beliefs and publicly donate/go to protests. Both pop stars are on the same fame level as Swift, and being A-listers in general would put them at risk for their safety.
