Taylor Swift's success has brought with it relentless hate, with a notable trend emerging: a group of grown men booing at the mere thought of her.
Whatever one thinks of her music, Swift has been a staple of the charts for 20 years. Yet, unlike her peers, there seems to be a certain group of people who think it's cool or original to make their hatred known.
This phenomenon was on full display at Alan Jackson's show at the Nissan Stadium in Nashville, where Swift appeared in a pre-recorded message to pay tribute to the country icon. The crowd broke out into a mixed bag of cheers and boos, with the initial jeers so loud it was hard to hear what she was saying about Jackson.
The video, which went viral, was filmed from an area of the stadium with a large group of fans nearby, including some who were visibly upset by Swift's appearance.
This isn't the first time Swift has faced a negative vocal response like this. During some early NFL games, men in the stadium began to boo when she was shown to be there supporting her fiancé, Travis Kelce.
Swift didn't sing or say anything; she was simply on the screen. And it was enough to upset a sensitive portion of the crowd.
After 20 years in the industry, it feels exhaustingly performative – 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 largely 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 in the process, and is breaking records held by legacy artists.
Her popularity was evident in the success of the Eras Tour, a unique tour experience thanks to the overwhelming feeling of connection and sisterhood among fans.
The tour was a massive success, with the gender split being over 70% female-identifying gig-goers, and 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, who felt a strong sense of connection and sisterhood with fellow attendees.
But whether fans or detractors, it seems everyone has an opinion on Swift. With the singer reaching a dizzying height of fame, the hatred for her has moved beyond whether or not you like the music; she's become a cultural touchstone.
There seems to be no middle ground – you are either a ride-or-die Swiftie or a hater who instinctively boos her.
That's not to say Taylor Swift is a flawless role model. Being a billionaire is inherently questionable, she's had a few feuds we'll never really know the truth of, and her use of private jets has raised eyebrows even from fans.
Similarly, she's not been vocal on certain political issues, such as Gaza or the Trump administration using her music, but she has shown a long history of liberal views, including positioning herself against the President publicly on multiple occasions.
It's not just Swift's personal life that's under scrutiny – her appearances at NFL games spark the most fury, with some fans feeling she's overstepping her boundaries.
But is the hate directed towards Swift unfair? Perhaps it's rooted in misogyny, internalized or otherwise. That's what motivates someone to boo at the mere sight of her on screen.
Maybe the next time you rush to tell someone you hate her, ask yourself that uncomfortable question: why?
