Taylor Swift gets political: Reactions to her Democrat endorsement

Roisin O'Connor
Updated
Taylor Swift has endorsed Democrat candidates for the US mid-terms: PA
Taylor Swift has endorsed Democrat candidates for the US mid-terms: PA

Reactions are pouring in following Taylor Swift's decision to make a rare, powerful endorsement in favour of two Democratic candidates for the upcoming mid-term elections.

The 28-year-old pop star surprised everyone when she posted a statement on Instagram which denounced Tennessee Republican candidate Marsha Blackburn and criticised her voting record and stance on the rights of women, people of colour, and the LGBTQ+ community.

Swift broke her long-standing refusal to discuss politics or endorse any one political candidate, revealing she plans to support Phil Bredesen for the Senate, and Jim Cooper for the House of Representatives.

"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," she wrote.

Feminist author Roxane Gay commented on Twitter: 'So.... Kanye [West] is MAGA and Taylor Swift is endorsing Democrats in TN. This screening of Interstellar 2 is fascinating. buy a lottery ticket. Anything is possible in this timeline."

Another widely-shared tweet by Kara Brown said: "If you had told me two years ago Kanye would be running around in a MAGA hat while Taylor Swift was endorsing democratic candidates, I would have smacked you to the ground and stolen your wallet for wasting my time."

"All jokes aside: What Taylor Swift just did is extremely important," wrote Ashley Edwards, senior news & politics editor at Refinery29. "Let's not forget: 53% of white women voted for Donald Trump. Having someone like Swift – who has a MASSIVE fanbase – come out against a Trump darling candidate like Marsha Blackburn is monumental in many ways."

Dancer, singer and actor Todrick Hall, a friend of Swift's who appeared in her video for "Look What You Made Me Do", said he "got chills" reading her statement and was "the most proud I have ever been" of the singer. He made several puns referring to Swift's songs and albums in his message, including "Bad Blood" and Speak Now.

"Voicing your political or religious beliefs is always going to separate people and potentially create bad blood," he said. "I have always defended Taylor because I know her heart, I know how her family raised her and how they've treated me and welcomed me into their home, life and family with open arms."

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I’m always proud of my friend no matter what, but today I am the most proud I have ever been. When you are a super star of epic proportions it can be terrifying to do things that you and I can do on a day to day basis. Voicing your political or religious beliefs is always going to separate people and potentially create bad blood. I have always defended Taylor because I know her heart, I know how her family raised her and how they’ve treated me and welcomed me into their home, life and family with open arms. When I met her I was a bit afraid to be my true self around her because I didn’t know where she stood on LGBTQ+ rights and I didn’t honestly know if I could explain to someone with blue eyes and blonde hair what it feels like to not only walk around our country, but her neighborhood specifically. We have talked for so many hours about these subjects and she has taken the time to actively listen to me, her queer friend who also happens to be a person of color. Today, for the first time, Taylor unapologetically voiced her opinions and stance on the upcoming Tennesee midterm elections. She openly recognized the issues regarding racial discrimination and she has made me the proud beyond my Wildest Dreams! I know that this was a scary step for you T, but my cheeks are hurting from grinning, I got chills reading your status, I feel heard and valued as a person who lives what some consider an “alternative lifestyle” but what YOU see as a beautiful life. I can’t help but to feel like I played even the smallest of parts in helping you get to this point, and I’m just so dang happy that the world gave you time to learn (in your own way and at your own pace) how important it is for you to speak out and speak now. Just because you like the album Red, doesn’t mean you have to vote that way. This is a HUGE step for you and the world will be a better place if everyone votes for the human rights that we all deserve. You, your family and your team continue to amaze me & teach me how to be a better human every day and I will always be in your corner. So proud to call you my Gorgeous friend. xoxo your #1 cheerleader! Toddy

A post shared by TODRICK (@todrick) on Oct 7, 2018 at 6:20pm PDT

He added: "We have talked for so many hours about these subjects and she has taken the time to actively listen to me, her queer friend who also happens to be a person of colour."

"I feel heard and valued as a person who lives what some consider an 'alternative lifestyle' but what YOU see as a beautiful life," he said. "I can't help but to feel like I played even the smallest of parts in helping you get to this point, and I'm just so dang happy that the world gave you time to learn (in your own way and at your own pace) how important it is for you to speak out and speak now."

TV writer Bryan Behar said: "Good for Taylor Swift. If you think being a progressive of any stripe is easy within country music, think about the last time country music played the Dixie Chicks. Mazel tov Taylor."

Several gleeful political commentators said they hoped Swift's statement would prompt a misguided, angry response from US president Trump, suggesting it would only encourage Swift's fans to register to vote against Republican candidates in other states.