Download The world 🌎of news app and enjoy additional content
The op-ed, written by freelance journalist and cultural critic James Parker, argued that Swift’s recent album Folklore is a “coded confession” of her homosexuality, and that her previous relationships with men were “staged” to hide her true identity.
Parker, who has previously questioned the sexuality of Harry Styles, another pro-LGBTQ singer and Swift’s ex-boyfriend, claimed that Swift’s songs are full of “subtle hints” and “double meanings” that reveal her secret.
He cited lyrics such as “I’m only seventeen, I don’t know anything / But I know I miss you” from Betty, a song that Swift said was written from the perspective of a teenage boy, as evidence of her “bisexual fantasies”.
He also pointed out that Swift has collaborated with several openly gay artists, such as Troye Sivan, Hayley Kiyoko, and Todrick Hall, and that she has been a vocal supporter of LGBTQ rights and causes.
.jpg){kind=tracking}
Parker concluded his op-ed by saying that Swift should “come out of the closet” and “embrace her true self”, and that doing so would be a “courageous act” and a “service to her fans and the LGBTQ community”.
However, Parker’s op-ed was met with fierce criticism and outrage from Swift’s fans and associates, who accused him of spreading baseless rumors, invading Swift’s privacy, and disrespecting her artistic choices.
Many fans took to social media to express their anger and disappointment with the New York Times, using hashtags such as #NYTimesIsOverParty and #RespectTaylorSwift.
Some fans also pointed out that Parker’s op-ed was published on April 1, suggesting that it was a poorly executed April Fools’ prank.
Swift’s publicist, Tree Paine, issued a statement on Twitter, calling Parker’s op-ed “a disgraceful piece of journalism” and “a blatant attempt to generate clicks and controversy”.
She said that Swift’s sexuality is “nobody’s business but her own”, and that she has the right to write songs from any perspective she wants, without being subjected to “wild speculation and false accusations”.
She also said that Swift is “proud of her work and her support for the LGBTQ community”, and that she will not let Parker’s op-ed “diminish her achievements or her values”.
Swift herself has not commented on the op-ed, but she has previously stated that she does not like to label her sexuality, and that she believes in “love and equality for all people”.
She has also said that she writes songs based on her imagination, her experiences, and her observations of other people’s lives, and that she does not intend to send any hidden messages or reveal any personal details through her music.
