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?

Does it matter?

She's a pop star, she's not running for president.

Nobody suddenly says that she’s gone conservative

When was she not conservative?

Why? She's a singer.

She should not be forced to speak out on a topic if she doesn't want to.

Whoever said that bit about Spotify for divorcees - that is quite funny but there nothing wrong with divorcees!

I’m a divorcee and I only started listening to her because it kept popping up on my Spotify - so it’s probably at least partially true - but divorcees spend money I guess.

(I am left wing though 😁)

Didn't they approach Downing Street with a trade idea about Kabbalah Water to clean up nuclear waste?

Taylor Swift is a pop star, and entertains millions of people around the world. Why should she be making political statements? One Direction never did. Benson Boone, an ex-Mormon pop singer, who is currently getting incredibly famous - afaik, no-one has asked him what he thinks of Trump. They're more interested in his performing. Robbie Williams - what are his political views? Does anyone even care?

Let entertainers entertain. Politics shouldn't infiltrate anything else.

I believe billionaires have a duty to use their wealth (created by exploiting others), for good.

This!

personally, I would rather everybody shut up about their politics. - can't we have one nice thing without people talking politics?

She does, just not in the way YOU think she should.

This.

Why do pop stars have to speak out about politics anyway? These forced declarations and need of constant reassurance your favourite girl band agree with your worldview is so childish.

Oh for goodness sake! Why should she speak up about Palestine? Why should she take sides?! No matter what she says (if she did speak about it) she would be berated and maligned! Of course she doesn't have to speak about this. She's a pop star not a flippin' world leader!

If I'm being honest, I get pissed off and bored with celebrities spouting their political views, and funnily enough, the vast majority are always left wing! 🙄

By aligning herself with MAGA? Cool.

She built a platform on being a liberal activist.

Exactly. I left a gig early the other day cos the band started talking politics.
I paid to hear them sing not preach at me.

You only have to look at the British Royal family to see this happens!

Show me proof that she has ever aligned herself with MAGA.

Who do you believe Taylor Swift has exploited?

I find Travis Kelce quite annoying, and there is something about him I don’t like (which I know is unreasonable since I have very little idea of him as a person).
But he was at press conference for his job, was asked about Trump attending the superbowl (the first sitting president to do so), and said “it’s a great honour I think, no matter who the president is.” which tbh sounds like something the chief’s media team have said “no matter what your views, whether you love him or hate him, when asked, you will say this sentence which does not mention Trump but talks about the office of President”.

He has taken the knee during the pre-game national anthem while Trump was president and demanding that the NFL cut any players who did so. He did a Covid vaccine advert. I’m sure the vaccine thing paid well, but I don’t think either of things are super MAGA.

I’m not an expert in him either but perhaps he just meant because Trump is the president.

Eh? You sound unhinged.

She is not aligning herself with MAGA and so what if she was outspoken in the past? We live in a very different world now where speaking out can literally get you killed.
I don't blame her for not being outspoken.

Who has she exploited?

Christ this is depressing. With all the evil in the world Taylor Swift does not even enter the first 1000

People change. She's called out sexual harassment. She writes and sings good songs. She gives to charity.
She's met a man she apparently loves. And now she's being called a 'trad wife'. I mean... What the actual hell?

You don’t need to have an opinion on every fucking thing in this world (I mean, I do lol, but it’s probably better that u don’t)

You don’t get to dictate how other people use their money. What you believe is so irrelevant

This is not to the OP, but in general.

I wish LESS celebs would bang on about their political views and hot topics of the day, not more. I wish they'd all stfu, sing/dance/act and otherwise entertain us, as is their job.

Who is TS? A politician? Professor? Specialist of Middle Eastern conflicts? Journalist? She's a singer. As long as she's apparently a decent enough human being/not a criminal of any sort, I dgaf about her political views or her stance on Israel-Palestine. She's not Rage Against The Machine or something, she's a pop singer, singing about breakups, relationships and the like.

Sick of ohhh, she supports Palestine - cancel her! Ohhhh, she supports Israel - cancel her! Supports trans! Doesn't support trans! Tries to solve humanitarian conflicts! Doesn't! She doesn't owe you her opinions. She might not even have them. Your choice is only to listen to her music or not.

Have you seen the fingers in mouth showgirl photo? I have been a fan of TS for longer than many of her fans have been alive. She has lots and lots of young fans. It was so objectifying and made her seem much smaller and weaker than any of the previous sexy shots. I am reserving judgement but do not recall her ever putting out an image like that and will distance our family fandom from her new album if that is where we are going. There are plenty of other inappropriate female pop stars but was just one clever beautiful and fun Taylor. Hope I am wrong