This election is not a trivial matter, it cannot be shrugged off like shaking off a minor annoyance.
Unapologetically Dishing Out the Tea on Taylor Swift's Political Endorsement
Hey there, people! Taylor Swift and politics? You bet your sweet bippy we're diving into that saucy mess. On September 10th, 2024, Taylor Swift jumped headfirst into the political deep end by publicly endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris during her presidential run. But did it make a splash or just leave a ripple?
The drama kicked off just minutes after the Vice President faced off against former President Donald Trump in the debate. Swift hopped onto Instagram to share her support for Harris, sending the media world into a whirlwind. Some folks swore up and down that Swift's endorsement would rally her millions of fans and sway the election. Others weren't so convinced.
This isn't the first time the pop icon has stirred the political pot. According to a buzzing article from Forbes, more than half of American adults consider themselves Swifties. Forbes also mentioned that Swift's considerable influence could impact the election, based on her deep connection with her fans. The New York Times also chimed in, claiming Swift's profound impact on her devoted followers’ lives could make a real difference in the election.
Swift's political leanings have been a hot topic for quite some time, but it's been a challenging game of cat and mouse for her to express her opinions without having the pressure of the spotlight on her head. As Simmone Shah from TIME puts it, Swift has been under fire for speaking out when she feels the need to, facing criticism for her reluctance or scary-eagle precision in voicing her views. It's a cruel double standard that's made her hesitant to join the political fray.
This hesitation can be traced back to Swift's choice not to support Hillary Clinton during the 2016 election. Swift was concerned that her endorsement might be used against Clinton by Donald Trump, weakening her chances of winning. In a heart-wrenching statement shared with the New York Times, Swift described the parallels between her situation and Clinton's — they were both being criticized and maligned by the public.
But Taylor Swift ain't gonna back down for long! The first time she made a political statement was an Instagram post in 2018, when she spoke out about the political races in Tennessee. Swift made it clear where she stood, supporting Demos Phil Bredesen over Marsha Blackburn in their race for the Senate, and Jim Cooper during his run for a House seat. Since then, Swift's political views have been more out in the open, even going so far as to publicly endorse Joe Biden during the 2020 presidential election.
This election cycle, Swift has been all in on politics—encouraging fans to vote on Instagram in September of 2023 and getting wrapped up in some whacky conspiracy theories during the winter of 2024. In July of 2024, a video from 2021 of JD Vance resurfaced, and in it, he called the U.S. a land run by Democrats, corporate oligarchs, and "a bunch of catless, child-hating women." Taylor Swift unleashed her support for Harris by signing her endorsement post with "Childless Cat Lady." According to reporters at the New York Times, Swift is driving Trump and his cronies cuckoo crazy with her moves.
So, did Taylor Swift's endorsement of Harris make a difference in the election? A study by Ashley Spillane shows that while celebrity endorsements can increase voter turnout, it's difficult to measure any impact, if present, on the election's results. Swift, however, has proven herself quite the celebrity endorsement powerhouse. In 2023, she encouraged her followers to vote, and over 35,000 people registered on Vote.org. And this endorsement could feel the heat with Swift linking to places to register and other related information in her recent Instagram post.
Swift has never told her fans who to vote for, but with her massive following and powerful influence, she doesn't need to. Some fans will do anything for their idol, and with Swift's signature use of cryptic messages called "easter eggs" to communicate with her fans, it's no wonder that the craziest Swifties would follow her to the edge of the Earth, or in this case, the voting booth.
Swift's relationship with Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs is a prime example of how her fans follow her lead. CBS found that because Kelce pals around with Swift, his jersey sales skyrocketed, barely making it past the Emergency Room after a near-fatal spike in sales. It's not hard to imagine dedicated Swifties marching to the polls because their beloved Taylor Swift wants them to.
However, not everyone is convinced that Swift's endorsement has the juice to win the election. Students at Bronx Science have shared mixed feelings about the impact of celebrity endorsements. Astrid Grimskog-Tran '26 said, "With the electoral college working the way it does, it won't be seen as that big of a boost... so even if [Swift] leans more Democrat, and Harris gets the most votes, Trump might still win."
Other students, like Alexandra Ghile '26, feel that Swift's endorsement will have a significant impact on voters, with some previously undecided Swifties mobilizing to vote because of their favorite artist's support. Ghile also questions whether or not celebrities' political endorsements can be trusted. "I don't think people should base their votes on what their favorite celebrity is doing. They should try to educate themselves on what they believe in, what they want for their country, and what each representative is promising," Ghile says.
As we march toward the election, the country is nervous as hell about what the outcome will be. Our elected leader will shape the United States, and all we can do is cast our vote and keep our fingers crossed. Swift has made her stance known and encouraged us all to vote, but whether it will be enough to earn Harris a spot in the White House, we'll have to wait and see.
Alexandria Ghile has a point, folks. While Taylor Swift's endorsement could rally some voters, it's crucial for everyone to make their decisions based on what they truly believe in and what's best for the country. Blindly following Taylor Swift's lead doesn't seem fair or smart, especially in this political climate.
"I don't think people should base their votes on what their favorite celebrity is doing. They should try to educate themselves on what they believe in, what they want for their country, and what each representative is promising. Blindly voting for our next president which will shape the future of our country because of Taylor Swift's Instagram post doesn’t seem right."
- The political endorsement by Taylor Swift for Vice President Kamala Harris during her presidential run was shared on Instagram, causing a media frenzy and sparking debate among fans and critics about its impact on the election.
- In an article from Forbes, it was mentioned that Taylor Swift's considerable influence could potentially impact the election, considering more than half of American adults consider themselves Swifties.
- In a study by Ashley Spillane, celebrity endorsements such as Swift's can increase voter turnout, but it's difficult to measure their impact on the election's results.
- Anywhenever, Swift's endorsement could be significant on social media platforms like Instagram, potentially guiding her followers to register and vote for Harris.
- Alexandria Ghile, a student at Bronx Science, expressed skepticism about the influence of celebrity endorsements, urging people to educate themselves on their beliefs and the promises of potential representatives, rather than blindly following famous individuals like Taylor Swift.
