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?

I'm sure they're very sad about that.

Taylor doesn’t have a trans sibling?

but what has Rhianna said about Palestine? what has she said about the housing crisis? The covid bungs scandal?

the absolute horrorshow she is by not spouting about it at every opportunity.

But what about people who don't talk about it? People who choose to keep their views to themselves? Do you insist they share their political beliefs with you?

I get what you mean OP. I don’t think she’s built a career on being politically progressive though. She only ‘came out’ as a Democrat in the last 5/6 years or so. For the 10 years before that she was pretty quiet on political and social issues. I do think she’s very savvy and knows how to position herself ‘just enough’ to maintain the widest appeal and not be boxed into a corner by the US culture wars. So when the alt-right started hailing her as an aryan heroine and Camille Paglia made the ‘Nazi Barbie’ jibe she signalled she’s a progressive, but in a fairly mainstream, non-militant way. Now she’s signalling something different, which may just reflect where she is in her personal life, but it also happens to signal traditional values ‘just enough’ without being full-blown MAGA.

You’re entitled to your beliefs, I’m entitled to mine.

I think that if you’re doing to use your “liberal views” to make money, you should be held to those standards when it’s also uncomfortable for you. The reality of it is, she’s there to make money.

For sure. She tends to mould herself in the image of whoever she's dating at the time. I like Taylor's music but I don't really respect her ethics. Travis is a meathead and the worst one so far, I can't see the marriage lasting.

She is pictured hanging out with MAGA people like the Mahomes frequently, if she didn't want to be photographed with them she wouldn't be. She was pro-Kamala publicly, but I wouldn't be at all surprised if behind the scenes she secretly voted Trump. She's a billionaire and he protects her interests; it's a no-brainer.

Can somebody please find me Ja Rule so he can help me make sense of all this? Where is Ja? Help me Ja Rule…

you do you. What other issues that people don't speak up on do you find sickening?

She's making money doing what she loves, which is writing and singing pop songs.

She's entitled to express her opinions, or not, as she sees fit. She doesn't owe you anything.

Hmm. I had to read up on First Ladies recently (for Book Group) and most of them, apart from Michelle Obama, end up shutting up and becoming extremely bland because the press take everything they say out of context and scrutinise every tiny detail. So maybe Taylor feels that way too. I mean, look at our royals! ( Taylor is their equivalent). When did any of the royal women say anything 'controversial', and look what happened if they did! I think it's a bit sad they don't/can't use their platform, and I really admire those people like JKR who do. But it brings the nutjobs out of the woodwork, and who wants to be the target of hatred?

the 6th form debating society isn'T what it was in my day...

It's nothing to do with you what - or who Taylor is.

HTH.

She is beautiful and the outfit is great but I think the fingers in mouth looking away from the camera pose is not empowering and quite weakly sexualised in a very stereotypical tone. It is also very obvious. Everything else has always been individual and stronger. I am not saying everyone has to agree with me but having been a fan for around 20 years I opened the email for the film and was quite surprised and not impressed to see that image. Showgirl is a very common trope, Pam A absolutely aced it last year, Britney did it loads. I suppose I was expecting something different. Fine to reinvent and I am keeping an open mind but for now will not be booking onto see the film with my young daughter which is a total first for us. I don't want her posing like that at 10 and fans copy their idols. No doubt others will react differently to the pic and that is up to them.

Jesus Christ.

‘ah, guys…call it off. Taylor’s been on, she doesn’t like what we’re doing’

and I thought I was unhinged for thinking to myself the other day that I hope she’s not so happy with Travis that her new album doesn’t have any absolutely heart wrenching lyrics that I can belt out whilst driving.
i’ll cut myself some slack.

Agree. This idea that every single person should make a forced declaration about something that matters to you politically so ‘they can be shunned if they disagree’ is quite literally something out of the Nazi party handbook. Who are the real fascists?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hitler_Oath

No.

she exploits people to become a billionaire and pollute our planet.

This. ^ Anyone demanding to know MY political views would be given a short shrift. None of their business.

For the second time, who exactly do you believe she has exploited?

Seriously, WHY do you have a Taylor Swift themed username? You clearly despise her.

You're right that 'she built herself up as pro-choice, feminist, outspoken and a liberal figure', however I am not sure she ever actually was what she 'built herself up' to appear.

She can’t answer. She’s blindly parroting Antifa nonsense and will flail and fold if asked to evidence what she says.

Exactly. Some of these posts are so unhinged. It’s
like the mundane Tik Toks I watch where people are dishing up what they’re having for a dinner and the comments are ‘yeah but what about Palestine’. No one owes anyone their opinion on anything, no matter how much money you have.

People are also able to associate with/be friends with those whose political views don’t align with theirs. That’s perfectly OK.

Anyone who buys into her manufactured image and pays silly money to listen to her average singing voice, perhaps.

what if you use your right wing views to make money? or your right wing practices?

am going to assume you use zero social media outside of MN, don't use Amazon and never have an amazing Weatherspoon's breakfast. And use a Hoover not a Dyson to vac the stairs. (disclaimer; it is highly possible that Hoover have some scandal i don't know about them. Other vacuum cleaners are acceptable)

What about supermarkets making massive profits? i hope you only use the Farmers' Market.
etc etc until the purity spiral disappears up its own backside