Lots of celebrities made it to the Women’s Marches this weekend, including Lena Dunham, Miley Cyrus, and Rihanna. Among those not there was Taylor Swift, who instead sent a Tweet saying she has “So much love, pride, and respect for those who marched, and that she’s “Proud to be a woman today, and every day.”
So much love, pride, and respect for those who marched. I’m proud to be a woman today, and every day. #WomensMarch
— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) January 21, 2017
But lots of people aren’t buying it. Swift often says she’s a feminist, and she’s got her “girl squad,” but a lot of people believe she’s disingenuous. Pretty Little Liars‘ Troian Bellisario blasted her earlier this year for what she called “false feminism.” Demi Lovato expressed similar sentiments in an interview with Glamour, alluding to the fact that she thinks Swift claims she’s a feminist but doesn’t “do the work” to be one. She added that “having a song and a video about tearing Katy Perry down, that’s not women’s empowerment.”
Of course, along came the Tweets calling Swift out:
@macleanbrendan By spreading a message in support women's equality, she's doing positive work for millions!
— Morgan Wanserski (@MorganWanserski) January 22, 2017
taylor swift couldn't go to the march bc of how famous sh— pic.twitter.com/ygsLQal46r
— bubbles (@youngselfie) January 22, 2017
@taylorswift13 This is gross opportunism. Be better.
— Chris Rollins (@chrisrollins_) January 22, 2017
@taylorswift13 stop using feminism as a prop to fuel your fake girl power narrative/meticulously crafted PR persona
— alexandra wang (@b_luss) January 22, 2017
@taylorswift13 it's transparent as fuck and getting pretty old. you only speak about feminism when it's "cool" & can benefit you personally
— alexandra wang (@b_luss) January 22, 2017
@taylorswift13 then why didn't you say anything during the presidential campaign when we could've made it so that this didn't have to happen
— Rachel (@ladyofthelorde) January 21, 2017
@taylorswift13 but where were you during the entire election?
— Jordan Ross (@jordanrosstv) January 22, 2017
@taylorswift13 shut up and go march
— Paul ϟ (@angryaiithetime) January 21, 2017
@taylorswift13 1 tweet and she back to being a feminist. Yet where have you been pic.twitter.com/1CSqSxQVjy
— ?yudith?????? (@yud87spn) January 21, 2017
@taylorswift13 pic.twitter.com/cMc554nm9M
— jeremy cabo ? (@jeremycabo) January 21, 2017
Some people, however, aren’t surprised, and said so:
please keep taylor swift fans in your thoughts as they're just now realizing she's been using feminism as a tool to sell albums
— huge fuckin killjoy (@mostlyemotional) January 23, 2017
While some of her fans did jump to her defense, the sentiment was largely negative. So far, Swift hasn’t publicly responded to the criticism.
[featured image via Tinseltown / Shutterstock, Inc.]
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