Late Sunday evening, Taylor Swift broke her career-long political silence. In an impassioned and heartfelt Instagram post, she endorsed Phil Bredesen and Jim Cooper, two Tennessee Democrats running for the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, respectively.
Swift also criticized Bresden’s Republican opponent, Marsha Blackburn, for her harrowing voting record that has repeatedly discriminated against women and the LGBTQ community. “Her voting record in Congress appalls and terrifies me,” Swift wrote.
Swift’s silence on political issues has, in part, defined her career. She has repeatedly said she does not believe celebrities or artists should be obligated to share their political opinions, in an effort to prevent politics from becoming pop culture fodder. But times have changed, and Swift has finally acknowledged this transformation.
“In the past I’ve been reluctant to publicly voice my political opinions, but due to several events in my life and in the world in the past two years, I feel very differently about that now,” Swift wrote.
Sunday’s statement is a breathtaking and momentous reversal for Swift. It’s validation for Swift’s fans, many of whom are people of color and LGBTQ+, two of the communities for which Swift directly advocated:
“I believe in the fight for LGBTQ rights, and that any form of discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender is WRONG," she wrote. "I believe that the systemic racism we still see in this country towards people of color is terrifying, sickening and prevalent."
Swift’s reversal also reflects the incredible urgency of this political moment. Swift is joining the overwhelming chorus of Americans displeased with the direction our democracy is headed. We need intervention. We need change. We need to vote. We can no longer afford to be silent, and Taylor Swift’s sudden political action is a model to us all. It is never too late to discover your political voice. We must continue to encourage people to speak up and break the toxic silence that had led our country to its current state of polarizing chaos.
This political disorder was on full display this past weekend with the confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. Swift’s statement came one day after Kavanaugh, a man accused of sexual assault by three women, was confirmed. Swift herself is a survivor of sexual assault. In 2017, Swift was sued by her assailant, a former DJ in Colorado who claimed the accusation that he groped her during a meet and greet ended his career. Not only did Swift endure the trauma of being sexually assaulted, but she also endured the painful reality of living in a country where her assailant could sue her. Fortunately, Swift counter-sued for a symbolic $1 and won her case. However, as this past week has made us keenly aware, not all women are as fortunate as Taylor Swift.
Swift recognizes her good fortune and she is seeking to share it. Her Instagram post is a step toward this goal. We are hopeful Swift discovering her political voice will help galvanize the millions of young people who admire her artistry and character. Taylor Swift has now spoken, and come November 6, it will be our turn to “Speak Now.”