#SpeakUpNow

[usatrendy]

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[tmarshconnors]

Abolish Section 5 NOW!

Hey, readers! Strap in because today, we're diving into the cesspool of absurdity that is Section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986 in the UK. If you're not familiar, it's the part of the law that thinks it's a great idea to slap charges on anyone causing "harassment, alarm, or distress." Spoiler alert: it's a disaster!

Let's talk about how this vague and wishy-washy legislation is turning our right to free expression into a joke. "Likely to cause distress?" Are you kidding me? Newsflash: life itself can be distressing. So, unless we all want to live in a padded bubble, maybe it's time to get real about what freedom of speech really means.

Section 5 is a playground for subjective interpretation. What's harassment, what's alarm, and what's distress? Who knows! It's a wild guessing game, and guess what? The prize is a potential criminal record. Bravo, lawmakers, bravo.

Ever heard of a chilling effect? Well, Section 5 is a prime example. People are scared to voice their opinions or stand up for what they believe in because, oh no, it might cause some distress. Give me a break! Democracy thrives on debate, dissent, and differing opinions. Section 5, on the other hand, seems hell-bent on suppressing all that good stuff.

And let's not forget the horror stories of peaceful protesters getting slapped with Section 5 charges. Yeah, because apparently holding a sign or speaking up for change is now equivalent to causing "alarm." Give me a break.

We're not saying public order isn't important, but surely there's a better way to maintain it without stifling our basic rights. Maybe it's time to put Section 5 where it belongs – in the trash.

To the policymakers out there: wake up and smell the injustice! It's time to abolish or seriously overhaul Section 5. Let's create a legal landscape that respects our right to speak our minds without fear of being labeled a criminal for causing a little discomfort.

So, UK, let's demand change, let's demand our right to speak freely, and let's abolish Section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986. The time for complacency is over.

Rant over.

[backup-baby-backup]

Well that happened. Of course the fact that they're no longer dating doesn't change the fact that they dated, but hopefully this encourages Taylor to, at the very least, avoid hurting her fans and everyone else from marginalized communities in the future.

Also I privately hope she stops dating edgelords, especially if she knew they were trouble when they walked in.

[joesalw]

putting this here bc this blog feels like a safe space as a someone whos always been very critical of taylor despire also loving her art… plus im far too afraid to put this on main so :/

i remember back in 2023 when the whole matty ratty thing was going on, and as a jewish fan i felt completely disgusted she would even allow someone so gross and bigoted into her life. i was part of the #speakupnow campaign with other fans, i felt so desperate to make it all end and for her to condemn that man… but she didn’t. she only distanced herself. i was at least partially satisfied she stopped associating with him, and i still considered myself a fan for that reason, but the pain i felt of betrayal to her most marginalised fans never really went fully away no matter how much i tried to stuff it down.

flash forward to now. i was ready for this album, excited even to get new music, only to receive a disjointed wreck of an album that was largely defending a relationship with a neonazi freak. i feel stunned and angry. i was already growing a dislike towards her because of the whole billionaire/ecoterrorist/politically silent thing but i told myself i can still like the music and be critical or her actions at the same time. now i’m not so sure i feel that way anymore. i feel ashamed and stupid and lied to. i spent so much time and money on her only for her to continue to lowkey simp for a racist misogynistic weirdo on top of all the other shit??? idk.

i feel like i’m looking for validation from others my anger and hurt is justified, that its okay to change my mind about taylor swift, that i can still acknowledge the positive impact her art had on me and not want to support the current path shes on right now because it is hurting people and i can’t stand by and watch any longer or else i’m complicit, that i can grieve the trust i put in her to be a better person that she’s been acting like in the past year or so. i hope this ask is of no bother to you, i just saw your ex swifties tag and felt like maybe this would be a good time to speak my truth.

Your anger and hurt is completely justified, the main purpose of my ex swiftie tag is for this discussion. We are all feeling the same resentment towards her. And it's valid because we wasted so much time loving her and defending her and now it's like she's completely a different unrecognizable person, a person that's doing everything against the things she once she stood for. You may call this being parasocial but she's to be blamed for that for deliberately creating this parasocial relationship with her fans. Like dropping easter eggs, secret sessions, clues about exes, sharing diary pages etc etc as a marketing scheme to profit her branding.

[magxit]

Just dropped: https://twitter.com/rollingstone/status/1663660316817780745?s=46&t=Jv7EvC8oVb-dKk_gHc29yQ

I haven’t read the full thing. But kinda sad when the media gets it more so than her own fans…

We Wouldn’t Be Having This Conversation If Taylor Swift Was a Man

Publicity stunt or not, Swift can have a sleazeball summer if she damn well pleases.

ON THE FINAL night of Taylor Swift’s MetLife shows this weekend, 80,000 Swifties screamed in the swamps of New Jersey for over three hours. They wore outfits from every era — tinsel fringe dresses, serpent arm cuffs, and heart-shaped sunglasses. I saw countless faces in cowboy hats similar to the emoji — only these cowboys were sobbing uncontrollably while eating foot-long hotdogs. And the bracelets! They were all wearing beaded bracelets coded in Swiftian lyrics, trading them in the parking lot like Deadheads swapping grilled cheeses. (Take my advice: do not try to pay for the bracelets. They will look at you like you’re from outer space.) 

It’s hard to believe that while this magical Eras tour is happening — and while Swift is somehow reaching previously-unimaginable heights of popularity, surpassing even the ludicrous highs of 2015 — she is also experiencing a backlash from some corners of the Swiftie community over her supposed new boyfriend, the 1975’s Matt Healy. 

Their sentiments were best summed up in an open letter on Twitter using the hashtag #SpeakUpNow (named after Swift’s upcoming re-recording of her 2010 album), which states that Healy’s many controversies “deeply trouble” them. “From engaging in racist remarks, making offensive jokes, and admitting to watching degrading pornography in which people of color are being humiliated and assaulted, his actions contribute to the perpetuation of hate, stereotypes, and objectification, which targets and hurts some people from the Jewish, Black, Chinese, Hawaiian, Inuit, LGBTQ+ communities, as well as women.”

The statement refers to the derogatory comments Healy made about the rapper Ice Spice on The Adam Friedland Show podcast in February and the questionable apology he delivered onstage last month. Fans raised eyebrows when Swift recruited the rapper for her “Karma” remix last week, and on Monday, Healy finally addressed the controversy in a New Yorker profile that only exacerbated the issue. He explained that the whole thing “doesn’t actually matter” and that the backlash he received was merely virtue signaling: “It’s just people going, ‘Oh, there’s a bad thing over there, let me get as close to it as possible so you can see how good I am,’” he said. “And I kind of want them to do that, because they’re demonstrating something so base level.”

If you didn’t catch this quote aggregated on the internet about 137 times (you probably had better things to do than scroll Twitter and hustle children for their handmade bracelets), you aren’t missing much. This is all part of Healy’s artistry: an intricate, tangled web of bits intended to rile you up and piss you off. This is the guy who eats raw meat onstage, gives Nazi salutes, and delivers intelligent observations like, “I’m obsessed with my dick for some reason.” Stupid Shit is his brand. Are we really supposed to take anything he says seriously? 

I’m not here to answer that, but I am here to tell you that none of it is Taylor’s problem. For the last 17 years, we’ve held this woman responsible for the actions of men she chooses to spend time with, and it’s time to stop. It would be fair to criticize her for walking out of Electric Lady with the ghost of Pol Pot or wondering why her dad and Matt Lauer are grooving out to her performance of “22.” But this is just a hot sleazeball who wants Oasis back together (I don’t know about you, but I’ve dated a lot of guys who fit that description), and it’s up to Taylor to spend her time as she pleases.

[reluctantbylerblog]

no because as soon as I heard the “talk your talk and go viral / I just need this love spiral / get it off your chest / get it off my desk” off lavender haze for the first time I knew she was done because she has NEVER been this direct. like, she obviously loves the fans a lot but she is done bending over backwards to please everyone and I'm here for it. she really did say “you should find another guiding light / but I shine so bright” and everyone was like “no parlo inglese”

Big fan of Taylor telling y’all to shut the fuck up and stop making her music all about the exes y’all think she wrote about, something she’s been asking for for almost 2 decades

[swiftiethatyouhate]

taylor swift: a year in recap.

midnights announcement, Midnights release, 3am release, bejeweled mv release, first eras tour livestream, the 4 songs release, the Alcott release, Joe breakup, Speak Now TV announcement, Matt and Taylor, #SpeakUpNow, Midnights (Til Dawn) release, “you’re losing me” “Karma” music vid featuring Ice Spice” Speak Now TV tracklist release, matty and taylor breakup, eras tour international dates announcement, spotify crash, speak now tv release, “i can see you” mv, midnights/speak now tv profile fuck up, eras tour movie easter eggs, 1989 Taylor’s version announcement (13 minutes after) 6 year Kaylor drought ending, the great braid debacle of august 2023, puzzlegate, traylor, eras tour movie australia.

it’s been weird.

[always-rolling-my-eyes]

Notice how Taylor gained weight after she started dating Travis greedy ass? Shes not even pregnant yet but she already looks huge like what the fuuuck we need to do something about this but not in a #speakupnow gaylor kinda way. As someone who's been a fan since fearless, I just want the best for her.

Everything you said proves you’re not a fan in the slightest and you’re actually just a miserable troll

What’s best for her is if people like you stop talking about her and stop trying to push these untrue and dangerous narratives

[ts1989fanatic]

OPINION

Matty Healy exposed the dark side of the Taylor Swift parasocial fantasy

The responses to Taylor Swift's latest breakup highlight a toxic cultural phenomenon.

Karma may be your boyfriend, but Taylor Swift is not your best friend.Chelsea Stahl / MSNBC; Getty Images

June 6, 2023, 5:29 PM EDT

By Patricia Grisafi

It’s a bummer when your best friend starts dating an apparent dirtbag. God, you think, what does she see in him? He looks like he smells of stale coffee and cigarettes. He looks like a hipster stork. You’ve heard him brag about how he watches humiliation porn. And don’t forget the racism and antisemitism.

Except Taylor Swift is not your best friend.

I don’t know what prompted the breakup, but I doubt it was a tearful Swiftie on TikTok.

When news broke this week that Swift and The 1975 lead singer Matty Healy had ended their brief relationship, social media celebrated in a way that was notable — and a little deranged. (And immediately started speculating about her next fling.) Just hop on Twitter and read the comments about how Swift had really heard her fans and tossed that loser in the trash. I don’t know what prompted the breakup, but I doubt it was a tearful Swiftie on TikTok. Still, imagine feeling like you have that kind of influence over a person you’ve never interacted with. Or that kind of personal investment.

Swift is — in some ways — an unusually private celebrity. It feels like her every move is carefully choreographed. We hardly ever see her messy, incoherent, or intentionally challenging. But fans feel like they know Swift because she writes prolifically about romantic relationships. It’s hardly novel, a musician writing about love and loss. Still, fans pore over these songs. They find Easter eggs in the lyrics, do complex analysis aligning certain ex-boyfriends with specific details. And because language is subjective and Swift is arguably both elusive and slyly encouraging of these readings, the meanings are ever-shifting. Depending on who you ask, she is everything from an Aryan pinup girl to a queer icon. In short, she is the perfect parasocial fantasy subject.

The term “parasocial interaction” has been around since sociologists Donald Horton and Richard Wohl theorized on the phenomenon in the 1950s. A parasocial interaction refers to a relationship in which a consumer comes to believe that media personalities are their intimate friends and that an emotional connection is shared. The phrase has become more popular recently with the rise of pop culture super fans, or stans. These fans can become incredibly invested in their favorite celebrity’s real-life relationships, and devastated if those relationships implode.

See, for example, when comedian John Mulaney separated from his wife Anna Marie Tendler in May of 2020 and began dating actor Olivia Munn. While celebrity relationships have always been fodder for gossip and people are naturally curious about their favorite stars (this writer included), public response regarding the Mulaney situation was noteworthy. Critics suggested that this was because Mulaney’s public persona made it seem like he was your buddy, your pal, a friend you could relate to. And he made his personal life part of his public persona by integrating details about his wife and French bulldog Petunia into his comedy routine. When he violated the parasocial social contract by not living up to that fantasy, things fell apart. It’s similar with Swift — particularly, this situation with Healy.

Swift stepping out with Healy disrupted fan notions of her and the values they believe she holds dear. She’s dating a guy who makes racist remarks? Who unrepentantly laughs about violently objectifying women? Is this who you are, Taylor? And if this is who you are, who am I?

Things got so intense that a group of Swifties circulated an open letter telling other fans to #SpeakUpNow.

Things got so intense that a group of Swifties circulated an open letter telling other fans to #SpeakUpNow and condemn the relationship: “He has been involved in acts and controversies that deeply trouble us,” the letter says. “We urge you to reflect on the impact of your own and your associates’ behavior and engage in genuine self-reflection.”

Rapper Ice Spice, who Healy called a “chubby Chinese lady” on a podcast, was brought in to share the stage with Swift in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Some speculated this act was a professional olive branch, others an empty, performative gesture to both Ice Spice and fans who were disturbed by Healy’s original remarks (he has since offered both an apology and a non-apology for the comments).

Poets talk a lot about how the speaker of the poem is not the writer of the poem. You’ve got to put distance between them. That’s healthy for artists and fans. You don’t know anything about Taylor Swift except what she carefully curates and puts out into the world. Her songs may speak to you, but she directly is not. Proclamation of ownership over a stranger and her love life, the fantasy that our whispers reach Swift’s ears and she heeds our pleas, is problematic.

Parasocial relationships can show the beauty of human emotion, our capacity for empathy, and our ever-expanding desire to connect. On the darker side, they reveal our desire for control, our capacity for cruelty, and our instincts to possess. If the parasocial fantasy is punctured, you might have to make an ethical choice that forces you to confront the dissolution of that illusion — and, more importantly, yourself and what you’re willing to accept.

ts1989fanatic: in some ways the last month or so on SM has been far worse and much more divisive than this🐍🐍🐍🐍 in 2016. There are times when I don’t recognize our fandom anymore.

I honestly don’t know if it’s the rise of TikTok as a preeminent SM platform or just a general increase in SM usage but I do know it’s become far more toxic than it was just a few short years ago.

[9w1ft]

WOAH Taylor fans being grossed out by Healy and being loud about it MADE THE NEWS. Also, I just found out about #SpeakUpNow. Clever. 🫠

like you saw it on tv? wow..

yeah i saw that hashtag trending. it’s a shame how much hate the original person who tweeted it out got, i heard they had to delete the tweet because it was so bad. the fandom dynamics of that are horrifying.

[maylorscardigan]

I was anti-Matty earlier this year. I regret going with the crowd mentality. I am a POC and I honestly believed in the stories going around.

When I looked into things myself once things calmed down, I noticed the mistakes I made. I sent you a few nasty anons. So I am sorry about that. i am now a fan of the 1975 and went to a show recently. I think Taylor and Travis are… cute enough. I have noticed that there’s been a broken narrative though. Not with Taylor or Travis or Matty. But with the fans.

her so called fans are trying to erase Matty and act like he never existed. Like he never supported her at the shows. Like he didn’t spend his entire break with her being her personal cheerleader. Like he didn’t make frequent public declarations to her. They act like Travis is the first and only man to do it.

I also notice how they are trying to erase any part of him in her music. They are still trashing him. Horribly. Still saying horrible things like I hope he O-Ds etc.

then all this stuff with Travis’ twitter comes out and the fans are burying it every way they can. They are even praising him for the ableist, homophobic, misogynistic, fatphobic, racist things he has said. They say “he’s changed” but has he? Someone who has said all these things turn around and then says he needs “a breeder” to get to be his mother’s favourite again? Or they excuse him for being an athlete and that’s how athletes are?

yet…when it was proven Matty didn’t say the things about ice spice but laughed… they still blame him. And that’s just one example. They still slaughter him. Still hate him.

and it’s no wonder Taylor has jumped into this thing with Travis the way she has. Are her fans not aware of how traumatizing their behaviour in May would have been? Do they care? They literally would have traumatized her and they don’t care because she ultimately left Matty. Therefore, THEY won. They PUSHED her and BEGGED her to give Travis a chance. Now they’re hoping for a wedding and pregnancy before she hits 35?

I’ve been thinking about the fan union post and the Swifties are doing everything that post was talking about. It’s disgusting. I see now how horrible it was for me to even retweet that speakupNow crap. But the fans have learned nothing. they are all in for Travis because he’s the perfect American football player. Everything can be explained by that.

she told us she was happy and we fans destroyed that. Now she is being a pathological people pleaser and doing everything to make sure her castle doesn’t crumble.

Thank you for this. Your opinion in this whole situation is amazing.

[bisluthq]

The people wanting her to speak up on Palestine keep using words like “speak up now” /“#speaknow” /“#speakupnow” like pleaseee if you want her to listen maybe CALL IT SOMETHING ELSE 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

I mean she just… won’t. Like she won’t. Taylor is a capitalist first and foremost and like she just won’t take a stance like that? She hasn’t said anything about Ukraine and that’s less controversial internationally or historically than I/P lol (I can say this comparatively because both situations affect me somewhat directly). She doesn’t talk about this kind of stuff. She talks about issues in the states she votes in and I’m sure she’ll endorse Biden again but that’s like all you can expect from her? What else is she ever gonna do and what would she achieve by doing it lol like let’s say she says “the icc warrant should be imposed on Bibi and Sinwar and Putin” (which like the average Israeli btw thinks they should like those are three war criminals!!!) like will it actually make any difference?? I’m genuinely asking lol? It’s nice for people to share nice little posts and shit but like fundamentally we need those three people in JAIL!??????

[lootkey]

Okay first listen through of TTPD standard edition thoughts:

This is very sonically cohesive I think? I know some people were irritated she didn’t go in a new sound but honestly this album isn’t about the sound. It’s about the lyrics. Most of her albums find a balance of production and lyrics but I truly think that for this record more than any other the lyrics are supposed to shine. I really like it I think. We will see after a few more listens but there’s some high points and there’s some lows (tattooed golden retriever I’m looking you 🥴)

Fave 3:

Florida!!!

Down Bad

The Alchemy

Best 3:

But Daddy I Love Him

So Long, London

The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived

Fortnight

Functioning alcoholic?? Ma’am?? Im confused a little by the lyrics and the perspective here. Also, why are you’re so murderous Taylor?? It sounds nice though! Love Posty’s vocals in the background. This song is definitely going to be stuck in my head at random times. This would have been huge on Tumblr during 2014-2015. 7/10? I think this may be a grower for me.

The Tortured Poets Department

Okay drums! “Who uses a typewriter anyway” get his pretentious ass Taylor. Personally not loving that slip into a falsetto in “hold me” but I digress. The second verse (?) where the Puth and gold retriever line is? 🤨 “we’re crazy” a self aware queen… this is not my favorite? It’s not bad but I don’t think I will actively seek it out. 6/10

My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys

I really like this heavy dark synth in the background. I fear this is about J*e and RIP buddy. She’s the only person who could get away with “litany of reasons” in a song. Queen of Sandcastles?!?! The bridge is ruining me, girl was going through it. 8/10, I think.

Down Bad

I fear this one may let me down because I loved that stupid AI snippet that went viral on TikTok lmao. I wasn’t sure about the first verse but HOLY SHIT THIS CHORUS. “Fuck it” Ms. Swift I am scandalized (no I’m not you go queen). The gaylors are going to run wild with the “I lost my twin” bit 🙄. Love this one!! 9/10

So Long, London

Admittedly I hear a leak snippet of this one beforehand but I do love the production of this one. The intro is a bit jarring at first but it goes with the rest of the song well! Her voice sounds so fucking good here. The lyrics are ripping me apart. “All that youth for free” ouch ouch ouch ouch. This somehow sadder than Tolerate It???? Like they tried to soften the blow with the production but oh my god. 10/10

But Daddy, I Love Him

I’ve heard whisperings that there’s shade to the “SpeakUpNow” travesty that happened last May? Get them parasocial weirdos girl. Oh god yeah this is definitely in relation to Taylor Swift™️ and how people forget she’s an actual human fucking being. Honestly I love this and some of it reminds me of Fearless kind of?? But also girl is a little delulu here. Love the BRIDGE YES YES YES. big dictionary girl here. I feel like the last verse is more towards TK than matty but I could be wrong?? This is not a song I will reach for but it is really so so good. 9/10

Fresh Out the Slammer

The western twangy start? Interesting. Love her delivery and cadence here. Matty really wasn’t the only consistent guy on the roster huh? Good for you girl. Another song a little delulu but I forgive her. Another one I think the Gaylors are going to take and run with 🙄 this may be the first “filler” so far but it’s not really 7/10

Florida!!!

I’m so excited for this one personally. OH MY GOD THE CEREMONIALS INFLUENCE. FLORENCE!!!! OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD. Another hint at murder??? Oh she was PISSED. This song is going to make me get a speeding ticket. The BRIDGE!!!!!!!!!! The feeling of restlessness when you feel stuck I life and up and running to Florida, she’s just like me fr. 10/10 immaculate

Guilty as Sin?

Blue Nile? Oh this is about Matty. Loving the instrumental. This is such a “windows down cruising on the highway” song. The vibes are so good. Oh girl… you want him so bad. I love this one, it reminds me of something but I can’t put my finger on it. Also the religious references in this one? Wow. THE FINAL CHORUS?? Jack Antonoff they could never make me hate you. 9/10

Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me

This is haunting. The lyrics are so dark but her delivery is almost smug? Excellent. “Whos afraid of little old me? You should be??” Again, a self aware queen. Also for some reason I’m getting Control by Halsey vibes?? She’s never beating the witchcraft allegations, sorry. She’s slowly loosing her mind over the course of this song and oh my god. “Sue you”????? Oh girl get them. This is one where I probably won’t reach for it but it is such a good good song holy fuck 9/10. Self written and self produced too?

I Can Fix Him (No Really I Can)

I don’t know why people thought this is about Matty, this to me is so clearly about Joe I think. The outlaw imagery paired with the production is so interesting. The lyric change at the end? Love it. Overall this isn’t my fave? 6/10

Loml

Oh this one is going to hurt me isn’t it. It’s so clear that she really does value marriage and wanted that with her past partners, which makes Lavender Haze so heartbreaking in retrospect. The chorus is going to make me sob so thank you Taylor. Wait wait wait, “Mr. Steal Your Girl” ma’am???? Be serious. Well this is about Joe lol. I’m so glad she seems happier now because this was written from a place of deep hurt. 8/10

I Can Do It With A Broken Heart

Holy fucking vibe change from the last song lol. The haters are going to hate this one but it is the classic ironic song that people will love to shit on without using any critical thinking skills. Thematically this is actually kind of genius because the lyrics are depressing and the rhyme is kind of elementary but slapping this beat behind it paints this picture of you know a pop star who has to go out and preform even though everything is falling apart. This stripped down would be devastating. 8/10

The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived

The inhaled breath to start oh my god we’re crying again. She’s implying he’s poor isn’t she? Oh my god. I do think this one is about Joe again? Stabbed me with my push pins??? Oh girl. Sank in stoned oblivion?? See I don’t think she’d make that comment about an addict who’s clean now but she’s given us other songs where it alludes to the fact that Joe smokes (YOYOK, paper rings, etc). She’s so angry here and it makes me so sad for her because I feel like it’s a feeling most women understand. This hurts so so so bad. 10/10.

The Alchemy

Yes lower register!! Ohhh this is a love song 🥹 also is this about TK? The team references?? I love this one. Another that I can see with windows down, cruising on a highway. Okay wait maybe Matty? That heroin line sounds like a joke he would make lol but everything else is so TK coded so idk. This scratches my brain in such a nice. 9/10

Clara Bow

This is definitely going to be in the same category of The Lucky One and Nothing New isn’t it? STEVIE NICKS SHOUTOUT OH MY GOD!!!! Oh this is bittersweet. Oh my god that last bit about TS with edge? How hard it must be to be this self aware and yet still have to sort of accept that fate. 8/10.

Okay that’s the end of the standard edition!!!

[littleeyelidsflutter]

I am hereby endorsing Taylor’s “Give No F*cks” Era.

This woman has given her fans SO much, and the “fans” that tore Matty apart, blamed Taylor for associating with Matty, and especially the ones that asked Taylor to #speakupnow should be ashamed of themselves.

This woman stood on stage telling us how happy she is, and I watched “fans” question her mental health and say she “didn’t mean it” or suggest it was all an act.

Taylor should be feeling on top of the world right now. Her talent, this tour, her career is in another stratosphere. Instead, her own “fans” have contributed to the madness of the past month.

Taylor - we don’t deserve you. I don’t blame you one bit if you choose to distance yourself from your fan base. You’re a queen at the top of your game, breaking records and reaching new milestones every week. THIS is what we should be talking about and CELEBRATING.

[with-the-flickers-of-light]

in response to the rolling stone article

// or: in which i once again read the bullshit and criticize it, including quotes so you don't have to give them clicks

link: https://www.msn.com/en-us/music/other/we-wouldn-t-be-having-this-conversation-if-taylor-swift-was-a-man/ar-AA1bU70M

"Their sentiments were best summed up in an open letter on Twitter using the hashtag #SpeakUpNow (named after Swift’s upcoming re-recording of her 2010 album), which states that Healy’s many controversies “deeply trouble” them. “From engaging in racist remarks, making offensive jokes, and admitting to watching degrading pornography in which people of color are being humiliated and assaulted, his actions contribute to the perpetuation of hate, stereotypes, and objectification, which targets and hurts some people from the Jewish, Black, Chinese, Hawaiian, Inuit, LGBTQ+ communities, as well as women.”"

I don't have anything to comment on with regards to the Speak Up Now hashtag, but I just want us all to keep in mind that this was quoted in the article, so that when we get to the next line...

"The statement refers to the derogatory comments Healy laughed about regarding the rapper Ice Spice on The Adam Friedland Show podcast in February and the questionable apology he delivered onstage last month."

... we can all recognize that the comments on Ice Spice were definitely not the only concerns. If you have to minimize the concerns in order to fight them, then you've already admitted defeat. (I don't even know why I bothered to read the rest of the article. Call it morbid curiosity.)

"This is all part of Healy’s artistry: an intricate, tangled web of bits intended to rile you up and piss you off. This is the guy who eats raw meat onstage, gives Nazi salutes, and delivers intelligent observations like, “I’m obsessed with my d*** for some reason.” Stupid S*** is his brand. Are we really supposed to take anything he says seriously?"

So what you're telling me is that giving Nazi salutes is his brand? I'm sorry, how is that meant to be a fucking defense?

I wouldn't "take him seriously" as in engage in real academic discussion with him, no, because he's acting like a fucking moron and there's a snowball's chance in hell of him responding to criticism in good faith (see: that time he was Islamophobic and refused to be corrected by an actual Muslim). But when a person shows you who they are, you believe them. He's saying stupid things, and I'm "taking him seriously" in that when he acts racist, I call it racist.

"I’m not here to answer that, but I am here to tell you that none of it is Taylor’s problem. For the last 17 years, we’ve held this woman responsible for the actions of men she chooses to spend time with, and it’s time to stop."

I've not been on Swiftie social media for long, so I don't know a lot about what pre-Joe discourse was like. But from what I (as a non-Swiftie) understood of it, the criticism leveled at Swift was that expressed in "Shake It Off": "[she goes] on too many dates / but [she] can't make 'em stay". That's not criticizing her for men's actions, that was slut-shaming.

I also want to point out the use of the word "chooses". The author is blatantly acknowledging that this is a choice, while also saying we can't hold her responsible for it. I'm sorry, but if you make a choice, then you will be held responsible for that choice (that goes for both appreciation for the good and consequences for the bad).

"It would be fair to criticize her for walking out of Electric Lady with the ghost of Pol Pot or wondering why her dad and Matt Lauer are grooving out to her performance of “22.”"

Oh, yes, my favorite argument: absolve racist people of their racism because at least they aren't genocidal dictators. Did we learn nothing about systemic racism? During the Lover era, Swift acknowledged the importance of being anti-racist, not just "not racist". And "not a genocidal dictator" is an even lower standard than "not racist". So no, it's not ok to be racist, even if you're not a genocidal dictator.

As for Matt Lauer, as I understand it, then main allegation against him is sexual misconduct. In which case I would like to bring your attention to Where the Crawdads Sing and David 'O Russell. Huh, seems like this article is actually arguing that we shouldn't cancel Swift now, because we should've cancelled her back then.

"But this is just a hot sleazeball who wants Oasis back together (I don’t know about you, but I’ve dated a lot of guys who fit that description), and it’s up to Taylor to spend her time as she pleases."

A HOT SLEAZEBALL WHO WANTS OASIS BACK TOGETHER. That's what the author got from all of Healy's shitty behavior??? He's hot (ok fine whatever allos i'll never understand you). He's a sleazeball (yeah he does look like one). He wants Oasis back together (i have never listened to them and refuse to go down another research rabbit hole). Those 3 things seem pretty unproblematic, sure, and yeah, I'm sure plenty of people have dated those kinds of people.

BUT THAT IS NOT ALL THAT HEALY HAS DONE. Like, fucking hell, I'm not sure how Nazi salutes or torture porn are ANYWHERE near the same fucking level as "wants Oasis back together". Do you understand how confused I am by this argument????

"“While individuals have the right to make their own choices and form relationships, we believe that it is essential for those in the public eye to take a stand against discrimination and hold themselves and their associates accountable,” the open letter reads. But that’s just the thing: We don’t treat Taylor like an individual."

... cool, cool, well then it's time to start treating her like an individual. Again, the author is not actually making counterpoints to the Speak Up Now letter; rather, it's picking random words to expound upon.

However fans treat Swift does not exempt her from being held to standards, m-kay? (If anything, existing so publicly and wielding the social power that she does means holding her to higher standards than randos with no influence.)

"We treat her like a deity, one who must re-record “Snow on the Beach” because the original didn’t have enough Lana, and who needs to get political again since it’s been three years and 119 days since she did so in Miss Americana, and that’s far too long."

...I'm so confused, what does treating Swift like a deity have anything to do with the "Snow on the Beach" re-record? I'm lost. Someone help me. I do not understand.

Also whatever the motivation behind re-recording "Snow on the Beach", whether or not it's apparently because we treat Swift like a deity... that's called capitalism? Fans have the right to criticize your work?

3 years and 119 days is actually far too long since getting political if you once said that you'd always stand with marginalized communities. And as I've said in other posts, she is getting political now by associated with Healy. That's a political statement, like it or not. So she's involved. We're just saying it'd be nice if she was involved in supporting human rights as opposed to torture porn!

"If Swift were a man, we wouldn’t be having this conversation."

... I have so many criticisms of "The Man", do not even fucking get me started.

(As I have also said before, feminism shouldn't be about giving permission to women to be pieces of shit: it should be about stopping men from being pieces of shit. I went over this in my post on "The Man" already, but here's my summary: pretty much every behavior exalted in "The Man" (both the lyrics and music video) is NOT admirable. I swear, no one wants to hear about how you're a millionaire when so many people in your country are struggling to pay rent, or tuition, or for life-saving medications. No one I know respects Leonardo DiCaprio's sexual habits; I thought we were all making fun of him for dating young women under 25? If you're urinating in public, I do not care if you're a man, a woman, or non-binary, I will be angry. Anyways, the point is feminism is meant to fight The Man, not to become The Man.)

I can't speak for anyone else, but personally? I'd be fucking pissed about this situation whether or not Swift was a man.

Can't wait to be accused of more internalized misogyny because I criticized a woman. Lay it all on me.

[screams]