Taylor Swift in the early days
A segment of the American population -- mostly White, conservative men -- has decided to declare a "holy war"on Taylor Swift, the music superstar who has become the most popular entertainer on the planet, achieving iconic status not seen since the days of the Beatles and Michael Jackson.
So why do certain dudes, who apparently need to get a life, have a problem with Taylor Swift? While she was reeling off nine consecutive No. 1 albums in a career that started at age 14, right wingers did not seem to much notice her. But then she started attending National Football League (NFL) games in support of her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, and in 2022-23, the presidential election of 2024 started ramping up -- and the right wingers suddenly noticed Swift had a throng of devoted fans ("The Swifties") and leaned to the left politically, even endorsing Democrat Joe Biden in his winning 2020 campaign.
Wingers suddenly realized Swift might endorse Biden in 2024, possibly upending the presidential ambitions of their hero, Donald Trump, and sparing us a repeat of his failed first term (2017-21). Swift appears to be a genuine, socially aware human being who happens to support her boyfriend on an NFL team, and that apparently was enough to convince some Trumpers that she was Public Enemy No. 1.
That Taylor Swift could be targeted by a bunch of White guys, some of whom might not be all that stable or well-balanced, is creepy. We've seen signs that this anti-Swift campaign might have dark undertones. Longtime Alabama attorney Donald Watkins apparently noticed the same thing, so he offered advice for the creepsters in a post titled 'Stop "Hating' on Taylor Swift; She Made Her Dreams Come True." Writes Watkins:
When Taylor Swift had to make her own marquee sign and performed before small crowds in third-tier concert markets, nobody but her parents, brother, and a small circle of friends cared about her career.
In 2009, Taylor Swift suffered through Kanye West's bizarre antics at the MTV Video Music Awards, which she handled with class and character.
Today, Taylor Swift is a global icon in the music and entertainment world who plays to sold-out audiences around the globe.
Swift is spectacularly rich and successful, so jealousy might be one factor driving the Trumpers' campaign to target her. Watkins notes that the creepsters aren't accomplishing much, beyond making themselves look sad, pathetic, and weak. He writes:
Taylor Swift has won 12 Grammy Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, 40 American Music Awards, 40 Billboard Music Awards, and 23 MTV Video Music Awards. She is the female musician with the most charted songs, most top-40 songs, most top-20 songs, most top-10 songs, most top-five songs, and most number-one debuts. Swift's Eras Tour is the highest grossing tour of all time.
Taylor Swift is worth an estimated $1.1 billion. She is a self-made billionaire.
Today, Taylor Swift is enjoying a close and loving personal relationship with Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce
Taylor Swift has worked long and hard to make her dreams come true.
Stop "hating" on her! It makes you look small and petty.
All of us should be proud of Taylor Swift and her successes in life. I am happy for her.
Finally, for those who are obsessed with America's political arena,
Taylor Swift is on the "right side of history."
That means she is on the opposite side of Trump and his seemingly deranged faithful. Good for her.
As for the dark undertones that are emanating from the anti-Swift movement, let's examine this article from Megan Hamilton of politizoom.com, under the charming headline: "Nutty MAGA Broadcaster Vows To ‘Punish That B*tch’ If Taylor Swift Endorses Biden. Writes Hamilton:
Not long ago, MAGA broadcaster Brenden Dilley, who considers himself part of Donald Trump’s “troll army” warned his followers to “develop a stomach for death.” Because yes, he’s that devoted to Trump. Now he’s back at it again because he and other right-wing nutjobs are so worried that pop mega-star Taylor Swift will endorse President Joe Biden, and therefore motivate millions of young people to hit the ballot booth in favor of Biden, come November.
Dilley, who also calls himself a “life coach,” (whatever that is) discussed the possibility that Swift may endorse Biden on his program Monday, according to Right Wing Watch. He encouraged his fellow Trumpiacs to keep quiet until Swift actually makes her decision.
Wait a minute. A loony MAGA beoadcaster is telling his audience to "develop a stomach for death," and he encouraged his listeners to stay quiet until Swift actually endorses Joe Biden. Assuming Dilley isn't talking about his own death or his listeners' deaths, then whose death is he talking about? Is he inciting violence against Taylor Swift? His words suggest authorities already have grounds to arrest him. Here is more from Megan Hamilton:
Before spewing the fire and brimstone, Dilley cautioned Trump supporters to reach out to Swift to try and convince her to either support Trump or perhaps stay neutral in the looming elections. I’d say they have a snowball’s chance in hell of getting her to do that. Whatever you may think of Swift, she’s not easily cowed and I think she’ll almost certainly endorse Biden. Dilley is a fool if he thinks Swift is going to join Team Trump. He did, however, take part in the failed insurrection on January 6, 2021, and that makes him both a fool and dangerous. (Speaking of crimes, that sounds a lot like extortion. I would say Mr. Dilley is heading for trouble.)
He illustrated this fact by saying that if Swift rejects their attempts and ultimately makes “the wrong choice,” then it will be necessary for Trumpiacs to “punish that bitch.”
“i’m gonna be straight up and blunt with you,” Dilley said. “as long as Taylor Swift remains, we’ll call it a free agent, we will behave a certain way. The second she makes the wrong choice, it is absolutely incumbent upon us to punish that bitch for doing that.”
“Right now, there’s been no commitment, so for now, we are essentially courting [Swift],” he told his followers. “There are people that you are courting; once they make the wrong choice, you punish.”
Women have been hearing this from men for decades, you know because to troglodytes like Dilley, we’re supposed to be the “little woman.” Or else. And since Dilley is encouraging this, it needs to be taken seriously.
Dilley has a deep-seated hatred for liberals and Right Wing Watch has previously explained that he’s a frighteningly racist, misogynistic, and a “gleefully amoral MAGA activist whose relentless attacks on Trump’s enemies has garnered him direct access to Trump and his campaign.”
I agree with Hamilton that this needs to be taken seriously -- and I'm concerned for Taylor Swift's safety. It looks like Mr. Dilley needs to brace himself for time behind bars. And if something happens to Taylor Swift -- that could be a long, long time in the lockup.