AIBU to think Taylor Swift is being carefully repositioned and we’re not meant to notice?

[MidnightTheory]

I can’t shake the feeling that there’s a very slow, very subtle shift going on with Taylor Swift’s brand.

She built herself up as pro-choice, feminist, outspoken and a liberal figure. But since this whole NFL era, it feels like the edges are being sanded down. It’s not loud, not obvious, just little things like the relentless focus on her cheering in the boxes, the glossy all American girlfriend framing, the way the messaging has become more family-friendly, less political.

It’s clever because it’s incremental. Nobody suddenly says that she’s gone conservative, but drip by drip she’s aligning with NFL values which are patriotism, wholesomeness and big money sponsors who want safe.

I'm not a massive swiftie, but I have enjoyed her music, and maybe I'm a bit of a cynic but isn’t this how brand re-positioning works? Quiet, steady, so by the time you realise it’s happened, it already has.

AIBU to think we’re watching that play out in real time and it could backfire badly? Especially if the upcoming album turns out to be very beige?

there are plenty of people talking about Palestine. What is Ed Sheeran saying? Lewis Capaldi? Jay Z? Eminem?

She is, aside of the apparent endorsement of Biden/Harris, generally non-political. That is also a position. In a deeply divided society, it is ok if you earn your money from selling the most things to the most people, to sit on the fence and not make any pronouncements.

And that is what it looks like to me, she is carefully pretty neutral.

I am a fan of more than one band who are deeply deeply political. And i admit that i don't go out of my way to find out what their exact position is on a whole range of issues (i know generally which way they lean generally, very much so) but i don't care if they are yapping on about Palestine or a whole other bunch of things i care about.

She’s happy and it just so happens to be a very traditional sort of happiness: her Prince Charming has arrived and they are getting married. I don’t know how anyone doing her branding could have made this edgy and I think it’s sad that just because it’s not, she’s accused of being a sell out (the implication). I don’t think there is any dangr of her becoming a trad wife or that any of her core values have changed, or will change.

But do you not think that the insessant bullying she's faced from DJT himself and the White House means that she has to stay silent? His one-sided fued with her is quite funny because he is absolutely desperate for her attention.

The white house social media team specifically took the piss out of Selena, someone with a history of poor mental health. Quite frankly I don't think she owes anyone an explanation on politics, not when it puts her physical and mental health at risk.

Can you imagine if we were a famous singer and Kier Starmer/Kemi Badenoch were relentlessly attacking us?

Why is it her job to speak out on Palestine? Comments like this are just ridiculous and are dripping with internalised misogyny.

Dolly Parton does speak about politics! Or rather, humanitarian issues.

I suspect that, like many in the industry, she has had some PR relationships to get her in the news to boost sales. It’s just some of her relationships, or close friendships that have subsequently broken down, are with people who seem to have speculation about their own sexuality.

Whilst I don’t doubt that a lot of celebrities keep a lot of their private life and sexual orientation hidden away I would like to hope that the wealthiest female musician, who is also probably one of the most influential female celebrities right now, would not be marrying a man she didn’t want to be with because of her image.

Its hardly evidence her political views have changed. She's also just had to get a restraining order out on a man who has been stalking her and breaking into her home for years and has been working on a new album, I imagine she's pretty busy. But again, if you had a friend who voted tory and had spoken about politics to you in the past, hung out with Labour voters (and Tories) and didnt talk politics for a while, would you assume they had changed to a Labour voter?

Her fiance is MAGA, for crying out loud.

There is no proof of this. It's just an assumption. Absolutely his employers are, but that doesnt mean he is.

it's too easy to attack women in the public eye. It is no wonder the more sensible of them don't say things in public.

And maybe her fiancé is MAGA (i suspect christian right-wing?) and maybe he isn't. In the grand scheme of things, does it matter to us?

I don’t think it’s a singer’s job to sort out Israel / Palestine!

Seeing as those who are paid to do so haven’t managed for so many years.

I’m not sure he’s a MAGA as he just gave a shit load of money to homeless people.

If my friend had made a point of being outspoken, liberal and vocal on political issues (when it made her money) and then suddenly switched up, yes I would assume her views had changed.

I like Taylor. I like her music and I went to the eras tour.

However, I also think that she used political beliefs to make money.

What I think about the new album pics and collaboration is that Sabrina Carpenter isn't as family friendly and whilst as a woman TS can of course wear what she likes the finger in mouth poise gave me the ich. I had the a Fearless CD when no one had heard of her and my daughter and I listen to all of the albums but the new film cert is TBC and I haven't got us tickets yet purely because it looks a bit trashy. Pam A did Showgirl very well last year seems a bit weird to redo. Hope I am wrong and the clever female empowerment is still there. If not I won't be as interested and I really don't want my tween copying the fingers in mouth pose. Very odd choice.

He said it would be an honour to play in front of Trump even after that orange pig had said things about his girlfriend.

Okay. Thanks for clarifying your POV.

The pretzels people will tie themselves in in order to slate this woman is absolutely mental.

'her silence on Palestine'. What the actual fuck?

I’m not slating her.

I think that in a world where silence is complicity, her silence on it is sickening.

Not surprising that a hugely successful female artist has different phases in their career as things change in their life. Remember Madonna's British lifestyle ale drinking phase when with Guy Ritchie?

Exactly.

Don't be so ridiculous.
She has no obligation to speak out. Nobody does.

She has so much influence. Of course she should speak out. If she supports Israel, fine, but she should make that known.

But... She's a singer?

Yes record companies utilise artists to sell a narrative and the artists are contracted and must engage with the branding they are told. She's going to make a beautiful trad wife.

Why???? Why should she tell you her political beliefs????

WTH? 😂