The Brittany Mahomes and Taylor Swift Controversy Explained

Taylor Swift is facing backlash from her own fans, Swifties, after the singer was spotted kissing Brittany Mahomes during the US Open, which she attended with her boyfriend, Travis Kelce.

The reaction coincided with the publication of a Variety op-ed speculating whether Swift would make a political endorsement this year or remain silent.

Many fans view Swift, who is arguably one of the most influential celebrities on the planet, as a wielder of great power and responsibility, and expect the singer to be more politically outspoken.

Why Are Swifties Mad About Taylor Swift Hugging Brittany Mahomes?

Brittany Mahomes, who is married to NFL star Patrick Mahomes, made headlines after she “liked” one of former President Donald Trump’s social media posts, sparking criticism online.

Mahomes dismissed the online backlash, calling it “haters” with “deep-rooted issues.” The controversy prompted Trump to thank Mahomes in a social media post, writing:

“I want to thank the beautiful Brittany Mahomes for defending me so strongly.”

Taylor Swift fans are used to watching their favorite pop star like a hawk, having been trained to pick up on subtle messages from Swift, who tends to drop hints and Easter eggs for Swifties.

Today, Swift’s most devoted fans seek hidden meaning in Swift’s everyday actions, which has led to Swift’s embrace of Mahomes being interpreted as a political act.

For some Swifties, their favorite singer might as well have supported Trump.

Others found the reaction absurd and pointed out that Swift was just hugging a friend.

Does Taylor Swift support Donald Trump?

Swift has spoken out strongly against Trump in the past and supported Joe Biden in the 2020 election. Her fans expected her to endorse Kamala Harris this year, and many are still hoping she will do so in October.

However, some have interpreted her silence and support for Mahomes as a sign that she doesn’t care about the outcome of this election.

Many have highlighted Swift’s comments in the Netflix documentary Miss Americanin which Swift presents herself as a politically active person who wants to be “on the right side of history,” as proof that they hold Swift to her word.

Others have objected to these expectations.

Some interpreted Swift’s silence as a cynical and “backboneless” move from a pop star who is successful enough to keep her thoughts to herself.

Notably, Swift remained silent after former President Donald Trump shared AI-generated images of her on his platform Truth Social, implying that Swift was supporting Trump for his 2024 presidential bid.

Swift and her team tend to be fiercely protective of the singer’s image — they’ve threatened legal action against a student who allegedly tagged along on Swift’s private jet flights — so it was odd that Trump’s fake message of support went unheeded.

Some Swift fans have pointed out that Swift, an incredibly famous pop star and billionaire, simply doesn’t live in the same reality as her fans and shouldn’t be expected to share their concerns.

Why Do Taylor Swift Fans Expect Her To Speak Out?

Over the years, Swift has cultivated a deeply personal relationship with her fans, going to great lengths to appear “close” and responsive to their concerns.

Swift has used clever publicity stunts, such as paying off a lucky fan’s student loans or inviting Swift fans to her home for a listening party, to reinforce the illusion of intimacy.

Swift’s personal approach helped launch her brand into the stratosphere, but it appears to have come at a cost, as many Swifties feel emboldened to fiercely criticize Swift’s love life and now, her political silence.

Swift has expressed her frustration with her more parasocial fans through her music, with her latest album calling obsessive Swifties “perverts who judge and say they want what’s best for me.”

Following the backlash, Swift has continued to remain silent; fans may hear the singer’s thoughts on the controversy in her upcoming album.

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