Taylor Swift’s music video for ‘You Need To Calm Down’ is… um, epic, sure

2019 MTV Movie & TV Awards

Taylor Swift’s music video for “You Need to Calm Down” premiered this morning to much fanfare and… the song is worse with the music video, just my opinion. I’m probably one of the people this song is directed at and I’m fine with that, because my Tay-shade is still here and I feel like it’s utterly justifiable. Remember during the 1989 album promotion, Taylor released “Bad Blood” and it featured all of those models and actresses? It was the height of Taylor’s Performative Friendships, because she had to let us know that she is more popular than Katy Perry, and that she’s the most popular person in the world! Well, “You Need to Calm Down” is like that, only gay, queer and drag. Taylor has carefully curated the Best Gay Peeps for our entertainment. And I can’t. This is the same old Tay sh-t, just with a rainbow flag. Watch for all the cameos.

People included in this video: Ryan Reynolds, RuPaul, Todrick Hall, Adam Rippon, Laverne Cox, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Billy Porter, Adam Lambert, the Queer Eye guys, Ellen DeGeneres and… KATY PERRY. Much like I said that Kendrick Lamar should be embarrassed to appear in “Bad Blood,” I do wonder if some of these people – COUGH RUPAUL COUGH – will be embarrassed with this sh-t too. I mean, Taylor clearly saw Ryan Reynolds murder a hobo and she’s been holding that over his head for years, that’s the only way to explain his continued involvement in the Tay narrative (I jest, Tay is friends with Blake Lively and Taylor would never tell anyone about the hobo-murder). Anyway, this is just Performative Friendships 2.0: Rainbow Coalition. And I guess I believe that Katy and Taylor really did make up now. Sigh…

I hope everyone already saw Matt Rogers clowning on Taylor’s new “I AM AN ALLY TO SELL MUSIC” shtick. If not, it’s amazing. I would lowkey jam to “Okurnt” and “I Do Poppers.”

2019 MTV Movie & TV Awards

Photos courtesy of Taylor Swift.

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142 Responses to “Taylor Swift’s music video for ‘You Need To Calm Down’ is… um, epic, sure”

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  1. Croatian says:

    I loved the video, she made me laugh, and Katy in her burger dress was a nice moment.

    • Bella Bella says:

      Is this Taylor’s coming out video?!!! Or is she jumping on the gay and drag train and is this white-girl privilege appropriation?! So many questions.

      All I can say is: FAB FIVE!! Woohoo!!!! Love them.

      Also: Those guys and gals would never get in a food fight and get their great clothes dirty.

      • Diane says:

        IMAO you can show support for LBGT and not be “coming out”… I feel as if that thinking is why more people that identify as straight don’t support LBGT openly. I support human rights including LBGT rights and I’m not on any train. I think we need support from all women including straight caucasian women.

        Anyway, I think the video is really funny especially the make up with Katy at the end in the middle of the food fight.

      • Otaku fairy... says:

        @Diane: Good point.

    • Still_Sarah says:

      I am in my fifties and Taylor Swift’s music and videos are guilty pleasures for me.

    • SKF says:

      I like it!

    • weezle says:

      I ended up playing it a 1.5x speed, and I really liked the song at that speed.

  2. Lizzie says:

    i guess taylor isn’t concerned with “growing with her audience” and is going to focus on selling to jr high kids until she’s grey. i like that she’s revealing herself to be an ally, at least in a performative sense, b/c that will seep into the heads of her fans via osmosis but it seems like pandering to me.

    • Faithmobile says:

      We don’t actively listen to pop music in our house but somehow my 8 year old daughter
      Discovered Taylor Swift and yikes! I’m relating to the dad in Footloose for the first time. My point is Tey is huge in the 8 year old girl demographic.

      • My3cents says:

        You totally nailed it. My nine year old was all about her last summer, I guessing she outgrew her.

      • oh-dear says:

        my 15 year old daughter and her friends also love her. They also love The Hate You Give, Kendrick Lamar, the Netflix Essentials of Rap documentary and One of Us is Lying. Her fans are more complex than they are given credit for.
        Also, one of the girls is gay (her dad is too) and appreciates the normalizing of gay icons and images that are positive, even if it performative. Her dad had a conversation with the girls about his opinion this morning and he said sometimes it takes over the top saccharine imagery to make difficult topics more palatable for some. I appreciate their conversations on the topic.

    • Alyse says:

      Waiting for the Tay Tay Jojo Siwa collab, the twelvies will go crazy!

  3. Daisy says:

    I’m gay and I don’t want this. Feels too performative and the song is horrible.
    Also she’s rich and can get the best doctors, so why are those implants so bad…
    She looks very pretty, healthy and happy though, so good for her.
    PS: ENOUGH OF TODRICK I’m begging. He’s so annoying.

    • Wow says:

      I was at work last night and it came on the radio at the nurses station and both of the nurses on that shift that are LGBTQ reached over to skip the song groaning.

      I asked because it seemed odd and one said “it pushes the “fabulous” gay stereotype and I’m tired of being seen that way.” The other one basically said she’s only doing it because people called her a sympathizer for not being vocal at the election and this is an empty gesture to clear her name for her album release.

      Very very interesting perspectives.

      • Alissa says:

        I can understand both of those perspectives for sure, but I don’t think it can be classified as an empty gesture when she’s donating the proceeds to GLAAD, advocating for a petition, and writing the government in support of the Equality Act.

        Does it feel a little false and a little late and pandering? For sure. But I guess at least she’s trying to back it up?

      • So cool says:

        Alissa, she did it only in last few weeks as a promo for her song. She was silent all her career. And in 2016 – 2018 when s*it started. Now days before her album and song she is a voal Ally. Please she is so obvious.

      • Alissa says:

        @So cool but again…if she’s putting her money where her mouth is, what difference does it make? There are clearly plenty of LGBT celebrities who are fine with it (and she’s been friends with LGBT celebrities for quite some time now).

        Again, I think it’s a bit pandering and late myself, but why deny allyship? If she’s bringing awareness and money to the cause, then great.

      • Wow says:

        @alissa I think its important to remember her activism track record. Her “activism” is incredibly selfish. Its like when she caped for feminism, but her brand of feminism only uplifts her. She has a history of racially insensitive or in the case of her colonialism of Africa music video complete black out level ignorance.

        Its not being allied when its a fad. No one is denying her access to be an ally, they simply aren’t buying it and rightfully so. You can’t spend over a decade being disingenuous and bandwagoning causes that your disingenuous behavior actually ends up harming.

        Listen, I don’t want Tomi Lauren coming out for black causes even if she changes all of her views and appears to be an ally. I can see why there are a lot of LGBTQ individuals not impressed with this and don’t necessarily want her near a movement that is growing in legitimacy and progress because she has a history of harming her own causes with her behavior.

        Also, great if there are a number of LGBTQ celebrities fine with this. Thats isn’t the metric for the gay community. Thats like saying Kanye west is fine with racist stuff so all black people are.

        I had questions because I didn’t understand why people in the community in the songs message would take issue with it. I asked, I got answers. Its my job to listen to them, not tell them its okay because she gave money to charity and LGBTQ celebrities support it. It’s my job to LISTEN to their concerns and take them to heart and learn from that.

        From what I can see this song appeals to people who support the LGBTQ community and a small portion of the community itself. The criticism and concern from actual LGBTQ people is what needs to be listened to. I want to be listened to about my concerns and let me tell you if my opinion was being dismissed because someone gave money to charity and had celebrities who were in the video I would be enraged.

        Look up Lizzo if you want an example of non performative LGBTQ alliship. Its time to listen, not time to dismiss legitimate criticism.

      • Tiffany :) says:

        I agree with Alissa. It’s hard to call it performative when she is actually putting action behind it.

        Are there other celebs who I think have done allyship in a way that resonates more with me? Yes. But I don’t see the harm in what Swift is doing.

    • Neva_D says:

      “i’m gay and I don’t want this” made me literally LOL. I want that embroidered on a throw pillow.

      (I’m also gay) I’m also not here for whatever this is that Taylor’s doing. She goes through too many phases for this to feel genuine to me. I’ll let her have her little moment, but I know she’ll be onto something else when the next album comes out.

  4. duchess of hazard says:

    It comes off as a bit… pandering?

    • So cool says:

      A bit? She is so pathetic. First she used game of thrones for OR, Jonas bro wedding and I just know that she will make some “gay song” . After she made this petition and donation I posted here that it is PR for her new song. And voile.
      She was so feminism Ally during 1989. Now this. What will be trendy next year?
      And to all people who loves photos of her cats – she will be using them for cats movie promo a lot next months. This is why she get this new cat. I just can’t imagine what she will do with kids in future? All for OR.

    • Millenial says:

      Definitely comes off as “here are my gay friend props” to me, but I’m straight, so what to do I know.

    • Ref7 says:

      YEP.

  5. MrsBanjo says:

    Her performative friendship routine has taken on a tokenising bent.

    Oh that’s so nice of her. /s

  6. OriginalLala says:

    It would be alot more genuine if she donated proceeds from this single to an LGBTQ+ advocacy group or charity. Instead this smacks of “I’m Woke Now, Buy My Music!!”

    • Bren says:

      GLAAD confirmed she did a few days ago.

      • OriginalLala says:

        That’s actually really awesome to hear – I was hoping she had!

      • tempest prognosticator says:

        She puts her money where her mouth is so I have no complaints.

      • Daisy says:

        No, her fans started donating in her honour (which is great). GLAAD’s twitter account said the donations increased a lot after the single and that a lot of her fans were giving 13 dollars bc of her since it’s her lucky number apparently? I’m sure she donated before and will keep doing in the future, but the profits from the single aren’t going directly to GLAAD for now.

      • Jadedone says:

        @daisy she donated $113,000.00 to GLAAD

  7. Jan says:

    Normally I would agree. But I actually think this is Taylor’s coming out album!

    • OriginalLala says:

      I was wondering about this while watching the video

    • Snowslow says:

      How? She has an official boyfriend.
      Do you really think that she’ll admit to having beards? And reveal all of HW’s secrets? It’s a bit insane but I’m all for real life becoming an episode of Big Little Lies.

      • Alissa says:

        I could see her coming out as bi. I don’t think she’s actually a lesbian.

      • Snowslow says:

        There is a rumour that she’ll come out as bi (probably started by her team). If so, it will be a very vague thing that she’ll neither accept nor deny, most likely?
        I dunno. And anyway, who cares? Until she says something it’s her business.

    • maya8 says:

      I don’t believe that. She doesn’t want to lose her overseas market. I mean if it was about just the us I’m sure she would have come out years ago but it’s not. Taylor is all about the money after all, she doesn’t care about substance and putting out quality work.

      • oh-dear says:

        I am not sure if it is just about money as much as legacy. I think she is trying to develop a long career trajectory like Madonna’s (prior to the last 5 years) that has themes and characters for each album.

    • Jadedone says:

      I find speculation about other people’s sexuality really inappropriate

      • maya8 says:

        Please, she’s been queerbaiting for quite sometime now.She thrives on things like these. Playing the victim is her bread and butter. Also, of course there’s gonna be talk about someone’s personal life, this is a gossip site.

      • Jadedone says:

        @maya8 I don’t care who you are other people shouldn’t force you to come out if you aren’t ready. Someone’s sexuality is their business, if they choose to make it public then that’s their choice nobody else’s.

      • Tater tot says:

        @Jadedone No one is forcing her to come out? We’re talking about things she’s put in her songs/videos/interviews. Now we can’t talk about it? It’s funny how these threads freely talk about Bradley Cooper, Jeremy Renner, etc and how they think they’re gay…but when it’s a woman, we can’t talk about it! It’s not an insult to speak about sexuality. She’s never stated what hers is.

      • maya8 says:

        @Jadedone Dear god, who said anything about forcing anyone to do something they don’t want. I don’t know if this is your first time here but usually these are some of the thing people talk about in gossip sites. I mean it would be a totally different situation if the conversation about this specific subject was malicious, but it’s not. She set this thing up this way because she wants people talking. Again, this is a gossip site. I don’t really understand your objection. It’s fine to talk about plastic surgery, feuds, rumors in general that also haven’t been officially confirmed, but we draw the line at speculating about someone’s romantic partners just because they happen to be the same sex? Doesn’t that attitude reinforce the stigma that already exists for queer relationships?

      • Jadedone says:

        @ tater tot I also think it’s inappropriate when we speculate about men too so please don’t put words in my mouth. @maya8 to be honest you sound like someone who has never had to struggle with their sexuality, lucky you. My objection is simple, we can’t tell someone what their sexual orientation should be based on our assumptions?? Who gives us the right? I understand gossip and I’m not against it but someone’s sexuality is not the same as discussing a stupid feud. We still live in a world where people are murdered for the sexual orientation. And please, with you bill ” doesn’t that attitude reinforce the stigma that already exists” is a lame argument and you know it.

      • maya8 says:

        @Jadedone For someone finding inappropriate talking about someone’s sexuality, you seem pretty comfortable making snide comments about mine. It’s true though, my sexuality wasn’t something that i had to struggle for it to be accepted by others. And i wasn’t comparing someone’s sexual orientation to a feud or a plastic surgery or a pregnancy or any other of the million things we talk about in a gossip site. I was just pointing out that the majority of the things we talk about in sites like this are not and many times never officially confirmed. That’s the point. It’s just gossip. Anyway, i don’t want to make this a battleground, so if you are truly uncomfortable about rumours and discussions like these maybe read something else.

      • Jadedone says:

        @ maya8 you think what I said was snide? You see the irony in that compared to what you are saying right?? Lol

      • maya8 says:

        @Jadedone You must feel really smart taking my words out of context, huh? You don’t like speculating about someone’s sexuality yet you comment on mine. What do you call that? Anyway, say what you want about me i don’t care, but don’t talk to me about irony when you are the one being hypocritical.

      • Jadedone says:

        @maya8 I took what you said as evidence that you are straight, so what gives you the right to tell people when they should or shouldn’t come out? It was obvious you were straight bc of the content of your words and lack of understanding. You don’t understand and you never will.

      • maya8 says:

        @Jadedone Are you actually serious right now? When did this become about people coming out or not, and me telling them what to do? And who are those people you keep referring too? I, not once, talked about real life situations, and how i handle myself. THIS IS A GOSSIP SITE. We are talking about Taylor Swift and everything i said was referring to her, and even then i never ordered/directed her to do anything. Are you sure you are reading my comments and not someone else’s? Honestly this is getting really weird. Either you are really angry/hurt (if you are, i’m sorry) about something and you are taking it out on me or you are just a Taylor stan and attacking me for not being a fan. Either way i’m done. Please stop accusing me of things i never said or did.

      • Jadedone says:

        @maya8 like I said at the beginning I find speculation about someone’s sexuality inappropriate. It reminds of the 80s and 90s when people would throw around terms like “you are gay” as an insult. It doesn’t feel like the speculation is done in a way to evolve the LGBTQ movement but a means to insult them, as if being LGBTQ is wrong. This is how I view it and that’s why I feel it’s so inappropriate. Never has been called straight been an insult but being gay has gotten people murdered.

      • Tiffany :) says:

        I agree, Jadedone. Speculating about people’s sexuality is inappropriate. There’s no excuse. I also think it is troubling when people take allyship and use it as the basis for that speculation.

      • maya8 says:

        Look Jadedone I respect your opinion about speculation on a FAMOUS (and i’m talking Taylor Swift famous here) person’s sexual orientation even if we don’t agree on what’s appropriate or not to talk about on a gossip site. But the thing is you took it on a whole other level that had nothing to do with what i was saying. After going back and looking at both your comments and mine it’s like we are having two different conversations. Even your answer on my last comment before this one, had nothing to do with what i was saying. You supposedly answered to me but i never used that language you are referring to in your last comment. This whole thing started because i said she’s queerbating, always plays the victim and i see nothing wrong commenting on someone’s personal life. Now how did you get from that that i tell people what to do with their own life i don’t know. What i do know is that you purposely tried again and again to steer the conversation where you wanted because in your eyes i was somehow? insulting your precious Taylor. So maybe shake it off?

      • KatMatz says:

        You need to calm down 😂

      • Jadedone says:

        @maya8 first off I reread your comments again and you conviently choose not to respond when I bring up valid points. You think it’s okay to gossip about famous people’s sexuality, I don’t end of story. I am NOT a Taylor stan but if thinking I am makes you feel better about devaluing my opinion fill your boots. You see nothing wrong with commenting on someone’s personal life, I think you don’t get to speculate about others sexuality. As a bisexual woman I am telling you speculating on someone’s sexuality is wrong, you should choose to take this as an opportunity to learn.

  8. LS says:

    well, well done on the political message after the actual video too. much respect to tay.

  9. ks says:

    I love it.

    • buensenso says:

      the melody is cute and I loved seeing adam lambert in the video, but this is katy perry’s aesthetic and I dislike that colorful chaos so much. too bad we have one more singer doing that now. also, I liked her a lot more before when she was a bit different…telling her love stories, writing touching lyrics, being a bit more reserved…she was special and authentic. this pop, dumb lyrics, rainbows, queens and stuff is quite mainstream and boring.

      • Some chick says:

        I love that drag queens are now thought of as “quite mainstream.” Progress! (I disagree that they will ever be boring, tho.)

  10. Kashmir says:

    Is this her coming out video? There’s been rumors about her and Karlie👀. I think Karlie and Taylor both have beards but in reality want to be with each other.

  11. gemcat says:

    I agree with Taylor Hosking at Vice who basically summed up the song as “a failed attempt at advocacy”. I personally don’t think the video did any better..
    You can find the article (which covers the song) here:
    https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/qv7nw7/taylor-swifts-lgbtq-anthem-you-need-to-calm-down-is-pretty-clueless

  12. Elkie says:

    I liked it. But then I liked Paris Hilton’s album of a decade or so ago, so my musical opinions cannot be trusted.

    • Cindy says:

      Everytime Paris Hilton pops up in a conversation my friends and I always make a case to remember her music was actually great (in a guilty pleasure pop music kinda way).

    • Alissa says:

      Stars Are Blind was a genuinely fun pop song and I remember making people listen to it to prove my point.

    • raptor says:

      Stars are Blind was a jam.

    • Daisy says:

      Nothing in This World is still a bop. I’m not even sorry.

  13. Cindy says:

    It does feel a bit… appropiating. If she wanted to write a song about LGBT acceptance she should’ve written about that. By making it about it, but also about her own haters, it’s kinda… rude. Like, is she comparing the negative comments written about her, one of the most famous pop stars of our time and a mindblowingly rich woman, to the homophobia the LGBT community has to endure? Taylor can shut off twitter and live a life full of privileges ignoring her haters. The LGBT can’t just do that about homophobes.

    • So cool says:

      Yes she is comparing. Basically she think she has such a hard life like gays. Delusional egoist. What next? Comparing Kanye incident to genoside?

    • otaku fairy... says:

      I caught that too, and it’s noteworthy because she has had it easier than a lot of other female pop stars. She’s had to work a little bit harder to get hate than the rest of them. Honestly though, if the only haters she was talking about were the ones who have been really misogynistic toward her and awful, that would be one thing. Misogynists don’t deserve to get a pass that homophobes don’t. But you can tell she’s lumping critics in with misogynists and homophobes, so it’s eye-roll-inducing. I kind of like the song and video though.

    • Dara says:

      It’s not a surprise that Taylor somehow manages to make this song all about her, even while paying lip-service to being an ally. She simply can’t help it, as far as I can tell that’s how she lives every aspect of her life. I doubt she even realizes she does it, or if she does, sees anything wrong with it. If she can’t relate, it’s not important. Classic narcissist.

  14. Michael says:

    While I no longer dislike Taylor Swift, I do not like her enough to watch this video. That being said I hope she is happy and I do think she means well in her own way. She just will never be my cup of tea

  15. snazzy says:

    I feel like even though many of us may find it annoying or performative, I do think the message will really hit home to her target audience and fans, and I guess that’s the point. I think that’s probably why so many people agreed to be in the video. I can’t hate her, or them, for that.

  16. Anne says:

    Please the video is cute, she’s having fun and more important, she’s using her platform.

    • tempest prognosticator says:

      I agree. I just don’t see a problem here. If the message gets to her target audience, that’s a good thing.

    • snazzy says:

      yup totally agree

    • LadyT says:

      It’s a catchy little tune that a bunch of 10-yr olds will love. Exposure to acceptance, or being accepted, is always a good thing. Beyond that I really don’t care.

  17. Veronica S. says:

    I find this PR shift a very odd move after “Reputation.” It feels…regressive compared to the more mature sound of the previous albums. Kind of a shame, honestly.

  18. Lee says:

    ” I mean, Taylor clearly saw Ryan Reynolds murder a hobo and she’s been holding that over his head for years, that’s the only way to explain his continued involvement in the Tay narrative (I jest, Tay is friends with Blake Lively and Taylor would never tell anyone about the hobomurder).!”

    Lol! He had an Aviation Gin bottle next to him in the video, so more publicity for his company, win win for everyone. All PR.

  19. Snowslow says:

    If this brings more acceptance to the world, so be it. Is it good? No. Is it weirdly phrased? Yes. But her demographic is little white girls, parties and shops so she’ll get where Rupaul won’t.

    • Cindy says:

      “She’ll get where RuPaul won’t”

      You know, one of the biggest problems people have with Drag Race recently is they feel it panders to straight women more than it does to gay men.

      Just saying. RuPaul already got there.

      • Snowslow says:

        Hmmmmmkay?

      • Some chick says:

        Ru is pandering to my demographic: adult women. Tay has a much younger audience who may not watch RPDR. Modeling acceptance is always good.

        And, TBH, minority groups need allies. We have to support each other or else the old white men will continue to run everything.

        I’m not a fan, but I can’t fault her for her message here.

  20. Sylvia says:

    The nice thing about this Taylor Swift video is that it doesn’t feature nothing but a steady stream of bdsm leather clad models and demonic imagery a la Beyonce, Rhianna, Gaga, et al.

    At least this ones is watchable bubblegun fluff and not a mini horror epic with horns and chains and torture for no reason.

    For that reason, I like this. Maybe it will help stem the tide of darkness that seems to have swept the imaginations of the highest paid pop stars in the land.

    • eto says:

      This is a bad take.

    • Otaku fairy... says:

      You’re lost. Breitbart is to the right.

    • Tiffany :) says:

      I really think you’ll like the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina on Netflix. It’s good wholesome fun that’s right up your alley!

    • ElleKaye says:

      You forgot Taylor Swift from her “Reputation Tour.” She was decked out in dominatrix leather while being groped by hoards of gyrating men.

  21. Rainbow says:

    The song and the video are horrible 🤮

    • Ref7 says:

      In the same way I didn’t like Miley Cyrus using cultures as props and opportunity to get her foot in certain economic doors, I also dislike this.

  22. Emily says:

    The part where her and Katy make up makes it seem like the media or haters pitted them against each other (cause they can all have crowns) when really it was Tay being competitive and petty with Katy.

  23. Kateeeee says:

    I am glad she is doing this, I guess. It feels performative, absolutely, but maybe it will help someone somewhere be more engaged in gay and civil rights? Every vote counts.

    I thought it was gearing up to be about Kim K and rewriting the events of her snake phase as more TS victimization now that enough time has passed. So when she tried to then make the song a gay rights/support/pride anthem, it felt even more squidgy to me but maybe she is not doing that… surely she would never.

  24. Alissa says:

    I like the song and the video was fun. It does seem slightly pandering but she also seems to be putting her money where her mouth is regarding the Equality Act and donations to GLAAD, so I’m not going to smack talk her.

  25. MrsBanjo says:

    To those in the comments wondering if this is Taylor’s coming out album and bringing up supposed beards: You do realise that bi and pan people exist, right? Even if it was a coming out album of sorts, it doesn’t mean her relationships with men were bearding situations. And the fact that you’re assuming she’s using beards at all is so effing vile.

    • Snowslow says:

      Her coming out as gay would be strategically weird, turning all her past boyfriends into a lie/beards/confused moments, so I find this suggestion a bit ludicrous – merely from a PR perspective which is how the real world works.
      Should she come out as bi or pan then super, great. Apparently there is a rumour that she’ll do just that.
      But knowing Tay she’ll probably just suggest something a bit vague which is her prerogative after all.
      I’m all for simplifying re: allies. She is donating, she is trying to put out a message of openness and queerness. I’m the opposite of cancel culture. Even if clumsily done, being supportive is a good thing, especially in these times of advanced bigotry.

    • otaku fairy... says:

      This. People who are 100% straight and 100% gay are not the only people in the world. Also, it’s always goog to remind those spreading ‘bearding’ and ‘Kaylor’ narratives of the fact that there is still a lot of misogyny, respectability politics, and ageism surrounding the kinsey scale and women. Hopefully the same people willing to accept/push certain things around a problematic 30-year-old white woman who so far has only shown us boyfriends, has never implied that she’s anything but straight, but has a ‘classy’ image are also willing to back off on the gaytkeeping when it comes to young women who aren’t classy but who state or imply that they aren’t straight.
      As for some who may say Taylor doing this without explicitly stating her sexual orientation is problematic or that all of us in the LGBT community should be offended by such a thing- I completely disagree with that, and am allergic to any kind of policing or possessiveness around the sexuality of others. I agree with Snowslow too. Sure, this is all late from her and we could say the timing is opportunistic, but better late than never, I guess. I don’t think her motives are either 100% opportunistic or 100% altruistic.

  26. Case says:

    I appreciate her GLAAD involvement and her promotion of the Equality Act, so I hate to be like this, BUT…this feels like Bad Blood part 2. Instead of parading fake friends around because feminism!, she’s parading fake friends around because gay rights!

    After the whole thing about how her Reputation songs were inspired by GOT episodes that weren’t even released when her album came out, I’ve gone from being a “skeptical Swiftie” to just being downright skeptical, lol. She’s so disingenuous. We used to know that because she’d date whatever “It” guy there was at the moment, but now it’s showing itself in other ways.

  27. Kathryn says:

    Taylor Swift will by all means be okay and continue to have wealth and influence but it does seem a bit like people are having a tepid reaction to this new era. But it’s kind of inevitable by the time most artists release their sixth and seventh albums they’ve commercially already had their biggest wave. I think it’ll be interesting to see if people start to drop off on her like Katy Perry for seeming contrived or if people are taking a break from her for now and will get interested again next album cycle.

  28. jinvincible says:

    eh, idc if she’s pandering. from what I’ve heard, she’s donated and raised awareness/money for the lgbtq community as well, so she’s walking the talk at least. she’s also making a very public stand, and no matter what she won’t go back to sitting on the fence again, which I like.

    cut her some slack. granted, her music is not as great anymore, and she may not be 100% on top of all things at all times, but shes alright. so what if she’s a bit childish, Id say many more celebs are more problematic.

    this site has a very jarring narrative of putting some women up and bashing some women like theres no tomorrow. everytime I see a tswift post, op is always pretty harsh, which baffles me. like, the hate for her pink, glittery aesthetic??? what??? let her enjoy things, damn it.

    • Squirrelgirl says:

      No matter what Taylor does she won’t win on here. There’s always a criticism. Who cares if she’s into her glittery pink aesthetic????

  29. Jequill says:

    Is the tracklist real ? Gosh it looks like it was written by a 12yo kid.

    • Alissa says:

      …No. It’s a joke.

    • Karine says:

      The tracklist is a joke by somebody making fun of her and using the narrative that she’s using homosexuality to sell an album (after probably criticizing her for not being political).

      • Jequill says:

        Thx for the explanation , I’m a foreigner and not a fan of her so I’m not really aware of all the critics against her (I know a few thanks to this website).

  30. geekychick says:

    I like it. I like the video, I actually like the song. IDK, I see it as a much mire clear messaging than, for example, Katy Perry’s awful songs from that album around Hillary campaign. Bon apetit, right? That was atrocius pandering at it’s finest…

    I have to admit, I like what Swift is doing. Ok, yes, it’s her career and of course the choice of topics in her songs is never “just” altruism, but as far as activist songs go, I think this hits it’s mark. She’s using her platform for increasingly nedeed messages: yes, diversity is beautiful; yes, you can get even and you don’t have to forgive (especially women); it’s ok to be young, growing up and having years before you decide on your definite life-path; it’s ok to demand someone to love you fully (end game)….just, IDK, I think she covers a range of topics which are interesting and that she doeas send a good message, even compared to her not so feminist or “woke” songs of her past.

  31. Usedtobe says:

    I’m gonna just look at it for what it is – a fun video to go with a less than mediocore song that she wants to send a message with. I don’t think she ever sets out to make the most amazing videos of all time, I think she likes fun and since I like fun where I can get it these days, I’m going to enjoy it and not dive too deeply into it.

  32. samipup says:

    Hmmnnn; two things. 1. The making fun of people who live in trailer parks….the way she dresses and showing where the character lives seems to be judgemental and presumptuous to me. 2. Same with all the Gay folk, most seem to be dressing and/or acting to fit a stereotype and making characters and background over the top. Am I making sense? Maybe it’s just me. Oh one thing I liked ….Ryan Reynolds as Norman Rockwell!

    • Snowslow says:

      Your message is making me think that the video actually plays with all kinds of prejudice really well 😉 Bear with: trailer parks are usually considered in the US as the white trash that voted for Trump right? So making a queer trailer park, while embracing its aesthetics without judgement seems a clever thing to me.

      Being an ally without being openly gay or bi or pan is always slippery territory, as is talking about prejudice. She means well. Her music is not the best and the way the music starts is so clumsily sung/worded… She’s donating. Let her be. Meanwhile Trump says that coughing is a sign of weakness… Let’s keep things in perspective.

    • Polly says:

      And it’s not like the people making policies affecting LGBTQAI live in trailer parks. That was pretty gross and classist af. Those guys wear three piece suits and more than likely went to a fancy Ivy or something.

      • samipup says:

        Hi, @Polly; Did you mean I was being classist? I did not intend that interpretation. I apologize if that is what people took my post to mean.

      • hmm says:

        That’s just not true. Vast majority of ivy peeps are liberal as hell. While there are some wealthy folks in the pot, a lot of it is people who need to get re-elected pandering to the folks in the country/trailer parks, etc. Still weird imagery though.

      • Tiffany :) says:

        Eh, I don’t know about that. Example: Kim Davis, the Kentucky county clerk that refused to issue marriage licenses to gay couples even after the Supreme Court ruled they were legal. Especially at the local level, people who have power can be your average Joe.

        It’s classless to be homophobic, so I don’t feel sorry for people who might be swept up into this association.

        At the same time, I do agree that there are plenty of “3 piece suit” types that are also homophobic, and we shouldn’t let them off the hook because they don’t look like the stereotype.

      • Polly says:

        @samipup: I wasn’t referring to you, but to the music video.

        @everyone else: But who indoctrinated these people in the first place? You’re acting like they just came out of the swamp thinking those things, instead of like being indoctrinated? Are these people responsible for the education policy and how it’s dumbed down. Who’s pandering to whom? Plenty of reactionaries and conservatives attend the Ivies and w/e. Acting like they don’t then use those credentials to push all sorts of terrible policies is tone deaf. https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-most-conservative-and-most-liberal-elite-law-schools/

  33. DS9 says:

    Wake me up when some POC and/or LGBTQ people break into her inner white Becky sanctum.

    But good for her for taking some baby steps towards the minimum standard.

    • ALissa says:

      Okay, wake up. Selena Gomez, Todrick Hall, Ruby Rose, and Ellen Degeneres would like to say hi. -_-

    • Karine says:

      Her sanctum? Like her inner circle? Like say Todrick Hall who is both? Cara Delevingne? Beyonce? Many others who you are not paying attention to to fit your narrative?

      • DS9 says:

        Hi for what, exactly? Because fans/acquaintances/shared industry contacts aren’t the same as deep, meaningful friendships and mentorships with people who come from different walks of life than you do or have the kind of transformative effect on your opinions and outlooks.

        I’m cry-laughing at the mention of Beyonce, btw. That’s hilarious. I didn’t realize they were tight.

      • Karine says:

        I don’t know her or her life (and neither do any of us here) so I can’t judge the “deepness” of her friendships. And neither can you.

  34. Ann says:

    I like this song and I like this video. It’s fun! I also really appreciate that this is being released on a Monday. We now have a week that will be jam packed with Swifties losing their snake-loving minds. The theories this is going to produce will for sure be epic. Swifties go deep with their fan fiction. Someone definitely has already counted how many sprinkles were on the cupcake on one of her recent instagram posts. And they’ve done numerology on that # at least 100 different ways.

  35. prettypersuasion says:

    I have zero interest in TS or her music, HOWEVER, that Matt Rogers track list video BROKE ME. Hilarious. So on point.

  36. sherry says:

    Sounds like a Shania Twain song.

  37. Emily says:

    Her hair is dyed the colours of the bisexual flag at one point in the video.

  38. Ladyjax says:

    I thought the song was lame til I saw the video. Now I’m in love. I am here for ALL that camp. It was fabulous.

  39. Yes Doubtful says:

    Mediocre song and video. I’m curious if she is going to come out with this album as bi or something? Not that it matters. The Katy part was cute, but I don’t believe for a second that the truce will last. Taylor doesn’t let go of anything. I’m curious if she will lose some of her far right fan base now that she’s taking jabs at them?

  40. Karine says:

    I very much enjoy the hypocrisy from people who complained Taylor Swift didn’t speak up politically in order to make more money now claiming she’s “pandering” to LGBTQA2+ also for more money.

    Apparently, she just makes money whatever she does so let’s all take a seat.

  41. BL says:

    I have never been her for Taylor- until NOW!! I LOVED this video. I love the message.
    Let’s not complain about how someone is trying to create a narrative about equality. It’s a good thing.

  42. KL says:

    I’m not wild about the song, but all these callbacks to Katy Perry’s visual aesthetic made me realize — musically it also feels SO similar to “This Is How We Do.” The chant-singing that goes super slow or super fast, the unrelenting percussive bass note, the monotone descant leading to the chorus… I realize a lot of pop music sounds the same nowadays, but when combined with the aesthetic thing, uh, wow.

  43. Serenity says:

    What an obnoxious ugly mess of a video.

  44. Bee says:

    I’m here wishing my fave Adam Lambert didn’t agree to this. “Gay Friends” is simply the new “Squad”. She simply uses people up to enhance her latest agenda.

  45. Not what will help says:

    This music video has delightful graphics, the song is catchy, albeit nothing different from any other churned out pop hit on the radio, and the overall message is a positive one I can get behind. However, I can’t ignore how the fact that Taylor is very insulting to people with differing viewpoints in this video; if the point is to convert hearts, encourage unity, and create peace, why use the utterly belittling message of “You need to calm down”? No one in the history of the universe has ever calmed down when told to calm down, especially in this condescending way.
    Why stereotype those people as uneducated country hicks, as she does in this video with their messy appearance, misspelled signs, and bedraggled clothing? That sort of stereotyping is the marginalizing that led to our current disaster of a president being elected. This video’s positive message is hurt by the fact that it still throws barbs and negativity at people; for those haters that Taylor Swift means to address in this song, she is just exacerbating the problem by portraying them as such. One should never be fighting fire with fire.

  46. Cheryl says:

    I don’t care if Tay is late to the party, or if this isn’t the perfect way to do it that is going to make everyone happy-
    Right now, we need ALL THE ALLIES WE CAN GET. She’s putting her money where her mouth is, and these videos are the types of things that can help normalize LGBTQ experiences and issues for fans that wouldn’t necessarily be brought up that way.

    Is it perfect? Hell no. But you all know what the enemy of good is….

  47. virginfangirls says:

    If she just acknowledged her own pettiness and apologize I could get behind her.

  48. Pookie says:

    Her colored hair (wig) is the bisexual flag colors. That doesn’t seem like an accident. it feels like Taylor is trying to claim she’s not only an ally but allude to being bisexual. It’s very baity – like the whole Ariana Grande “Break Up with Your Girlfriend” video.

    • Otaku fairy... says:

      It’s fine if a person decides to show that their attraction isn’t 100% exclusive to the opposite or same sex. My only problem is with people who share their sexuality so they can use it as a shield for furthering Deplorable agendas, or so they can oppress other marginalized groups.

  49. Goya says:

    I’m over fourteen, why would this trick matter to me?

  50. ikki says:

    Katy is such a good sport to participate in this mess. She never did anything sufficiently awful to merit Taylor’s constant vitriol for the past years.