I am a huge Swiftie!

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2 years ago

by McKay T.

Recently, Taylor Swift has become a somewhat controversial figure within the environmental community. Although she has been headlining concerts around the world for the past year, her excessive use of her private jet has been criticised by climate activists around the world. How did she get there so quickly? Was that trip really necessary? What is she doing to offset the excessive carbon emissions she is producing?

As a massive Swiftie and an environmentalist, this has led to a dilemma for me. 1989 was the album of my childhood. There are many embarrassing recordings of me attempting to sing Blank Space, Shake It Off and many other Taylor Swift songs. I recently returned to Taylor shortly after she released folklore and became a full-time Swiftie when I listened to Red (Taylor’s Version). I know all the lyrics of her songs, I’ve made friendship bracelets commemorating the inside jokes she shares with her fans, I’ve watched the live recordings of all her concerts. And yet, I am a staunch environmentalist. I’ve marched for climate change in the city, I’ve spoken at climate poetry competitions, and of course, I volunteer with Community Flower Studio. How do these two things come together when they seem so contradictory?

I had the honour of watching The Eras Tour when she was here in Melbourne. More than five people were on Ticketmaster trying to get seats for me and my friends, and my expectations for the show were high, even though I tried to avoid spoilers on social media (an impossible task). Watching it was an emotional rollercoaster, to say the least. I cried when she emerged from the pink sheets singing “It’s been a long time coming”, I screamed all her songs until my voice was hoarse, and I made impossibly loud screeches when she revealed her surprise songs for the night. Even without the Swiftie lens, it is undeniable: Taylor can put on a show. Her talent as a performer was evident to everyone who was there. No matter how far you were from the stage, she captivated you with her presence, stage effects and, of course, her voice. It was easy to see how everyone had been swept up in the Taylor Swift craze, just like me.

And so, we are met with an unstoppable force and an immovable object. How can these two parts of me—climate change activist and huge Taylor Swift fan—reconcile? I certainly was not going to stop fighting for climate change policies, and after watching The Eras Tour, I don’t think I will stop being a Swiftie any time soon.

It’s easy to attack Taylor Swift. After all, she’s probably the most powerful female celebrity at the moment. The world’s eyes are on her, and she’s so easy to scrutinise, especially when she’s not new to being in the middle of controversy (see: her album reputation). So, it’s easy to have tunnel vision and talk about her when we discuss celebrities and climate change. Never mind the hundreds of other celebrities with private jets zooming around the world as well, with or without a world tour, or the questionable maths that put Taylor at the top of the chart in the first place – it’s easy to look for an individual to blame for committing a crime, and when someone’s so near the ring of fire, it’s so tempting just to push her.

https://time.com/6342816/person-of-the-year-2023-taylor-swift-choice/

That’s not to say Taylor Swift should be completely absolved of any wrongdoing just because she isn’t the only person doing something. I am a huge Swiftie, yet I can easily criticise her for her carbon emissions and selective activism. However, that knowledge can coexist with the awareness that she isn’t the only person doing something wrong – and frankly, she’s not the only thing we should look at for climate change emissions. No matter how many private jet trips she takes, the amount of greenhouse gases huge corporations produce dwarfs her actions.

Taylor Swift will clearly not stop using her private jet—after all, even amid criticism, her fans will always go to her tours, stream her albums, and buy all her merchandise. I will not stop campaigning for climate change…yet I will also continue to engage in the seemingly hypocritical act of going to her tours, streaming her albums, and buying her merchandise. Does that make me a bad person?

Discussions online desperately need nuance. We are expected to fulfil dichotomous roles of hater or lover, but we forget to create a space for individuals in the middle of the spectrum. So, I don’t think I’m a bad person – I think I’m just a person. Climate change activist or not, I recommend you see Taylor if you have the chance. Because even if she made a trail of carbon emissions to get there, she knows how to put on a show.