Taylor Swift Faces Backlash Following Too Little, Too Late Women’s March Support
Taylor Swift is being accused of opportunism after tweeting about the Women’s March hours after it began, though it does not appear she personally attended any of the rallies alongside her pop peers, a group which included Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus, Rihanna, Ariana Grande, Demi Lovato, Troye Sivan, Halsey and countless other A-list celebrities.
On Saturday (January 21), Swift sent out a tweet in support of the massive pro-woman, pro-human rights Women’s March, which was taking place in cities around the country and drew an estimated half a million people in Washington, D.C. alone. The pop star wrote, “So much love, pride, and respect for those who marched. I’m proud to be a woman today, and every day. #WomensMarch”
So much love, pride, and respect for those who marched. I'm proud to be a woman today, and every day. #WomensMarch
— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) January 21, 2017
While the pop star has publicly touted herself as a feminist in the past, many believe that she subscribes to “white feminism” —a term that refers to self-interested actions promoting the improvement of one’s own life, as opposed to addressing intersectional topics such as race and class, as well as LGBTQ oppression —and isn’t nearly as active in promoting specific and tangible broader feminist causes as her socioeconomic status would allow her to be. Stepping out to march would have been a small first step in this direction.
Her infamous squad has been pointed to as an example of exclusivity and exclusion, while her song and video for “Bad Blood” has been criticized for promoting “girl on girl crime,” to quote Tina Fey in Mean Girls.
Following her vague endorsement of the Women’s March, users on Twitter took the pop star to task for being what many are calling an opportunistic “selective feminist,” and for hitching her proverbial wagon to a movement she did not personally hit the streets (according to eyewitness reports, so far) to support.
“Thanks for finally voicing an opinion on this election!” one Twitter user wrote sarcastically, while another tweeted, “You do not get to pick and choose when feminism benefits you”—the latter sentiment “liked” and cosigned by politically active alt-rock band Best Coast.
See below:
As a fan of yours, this is some bullshit. You do not get to pick and choose when feminism benefits you. @taylorswift13
— alyssa (@SOLONIALLRlSE) January 21, 2017
@taylorswift13 This is gross opportunism. Be better.
— Chris Rollins (@chrisrollins_) January 22, 2017
@SOLONIALLRlSE @taylorswift13 bless your heart for this
— Best Coast (@BestCoast) January 22, 2017
@taylorswift13 1 tweet and she back to being a feminist. Yet where have you been pic.twitter.com/1CSqSxQVjy
— yudith (@yud87spn) January 21, 2017
Katy perry, Ariana grande, Taylor swift & miley Cyrus practicing what they preach at the #WomensMarch pic.twitter.com/qtj1IQC4Ha
— (@JustinOutsold) January 21, 2017
@taylorswift13 pic.twitter.com/cMc554nm9M
— jeremy cabo (@jeremycabo) January 21, 2017
@taylorswift13 thanks for finally voicing an opinion this election! Perfect timing!
— Parksy (@recreationareas) January 21, 2017
@taylorswift13 shut up and go march
— Paul ϟ (@angryaiithetime) January 21, 2017
Can someone tell me why taylor didn't go to the march. I don't want to be mad at her but I am
— Jane (@singswiftly) January 22, 2017
so why didn't queen of feminism taylor swift attend the woman's march yesterday?
— mickey (@padfootshea) January 22, 2017
Some stans think Taylor can do no wrong…I love Taylor but she should have gone to the march. She shouldn't stay silent on such issues.
— Taylor Swift Fan (@swiftcantbreak) January 21, 2017
Do you think Taylor Swift is a “selective feminist”? Sound off on Twitter: @popcrush
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