The relentless hate directed at Taylor Swift has become a peculiar phenomenon, especially when it comes from a group of grown men.
With a career spanning 20 years, Swift has been a staple of the charts, yet a certain group of people seems to take pleasure in expressing their disdain for her. The recent incident at Alan Jackson's show at the Nissan Stadium in Nashville is a prime example of this.
Swift appeared in a pre-recorded message to pay tribute to the country icon, but the crowd's reaction was mixed, with some cheering and others booing loudly. The initial jeers were so loud that it was hard to hear her tribute to Jackson.
The video, which was filmed from an area with a large group of supporters nearby, shows cheers clearing heard later in the clip from further away. It's not surprising that Trump supporters took issue with Swift, given her endorsement of Democrat candidates for high office.
However, this isn't the first time Swift has faced a negative vocal response. During early NFL games, men in the stadium began to boo when she was shown supporting her fiancé, Travis Kelce. She didn't sing or say anything, yet it was enough to upset a sensitive portion of the crowd.
After 20 years in the industry, it's exhausting to see people trying to define themselves by their hatred of a female singer. Swift's greatest offense seems to be being a female singer who built her audience without pandering to the male gaze, and is now an undeniable industry heavyweight.
She's climbed to the top of a notoriously difficult industry, got her masters back, and is breaking records held by legacy artists. It's difficult to understand why some people can't accept her success and accomplishments.
The Eras Tour was a unique experience that showcased Swift's connection with her fans. According to Infegy, the gender split was over 70% female-identifying gig-goers, with 25 to 34-year-olds posting the majority of social content about the shows.
Going to the Eras Tour was a religious experience for many fans, but Swift's popularity also elicits a polarizing response from detractors. Whether fans or detractors, it seems everyone has an opinion on Swift. With her reaching a dizzying height of fame, the hatred for her has moved beyond whether or not you like the music; she's become Marmite, and we all must pick a side in the great war.
There seems to be no middle ground – you're either a ride-or-die Swiftie or a hater who instinctively boos her. It's not just about her music; it's about her as a person and a symbol. Many people have rushed to tell me they hate Swift, only to later confess they like a few songs, gradually softening as their hatred fails to get a rise out of me.
I think for a lot of people, that knee-jerk reaction they have to hate Swift as a person or symbol is probably rooted in misogyny, internalized or otherwise. That's what motivates someone to boo at the mere sight of her on screen.
It might be annoying if she pops up on occasion, but it's not worth engaging with the hate. Hating on her – or any celebrity – only gives more attention; if all the men who booed her had simply been quiet, she probably wouldn't have been on their newsfeeds as much the next day.
The ingrained hatred for Swift is such loser behavior in a world where you can just walk away. Even if you don't like her music, you don't have to engage. Maybe the next time you rush to tell someone you hate her, ask yourself that uncomfortable question: why?
