Taylor Swift burst onto the scene with her brand of country music that appealed to teenage girls everywhere. Swift received worldwide attention for her catchy hooks and relatability. She changed up her sound in 2014 with her "1989" album, going in a purely pop direction. She had continued success with her album "Reputation," which led to a very successful stadium tour.
Swift found more success with her "Lover" album in 2019. However, the pandemic caused her to create in isolation, resulting in the albums "Folklore" and "Evermore." Swift delighted fans this year when she announced her new album, "Midnights," would be released in October.
However, controversy has followed the release, particularly the music video for "Anti-Hero." Here's a breakdown of the controversy and what Swift appears to be doing about it.
Taylor Swift Amazed Fans With 'Folklore' And 'Evermore'
Swift through her fans a curveball during the COVID-19 pandemic. She initially planned to tour behind her 2019 album, "Lover." However, those plans were canceled when the world went into quarantine.
Instead, Swift decided to spend her free time making an entire new album. She worked virtually with producers Aaron Dessner and Jack Antonoff. The album explored fictional stories that Swift said "flowed like a stream of consciousness." The album was given a surprise release on July 24, 2020.
"Picking up a pen was my way of escaping into fantasy, history, and memory," Swift wrote on her Instagram. "I've told these stories to the best of my ability with all the love, wonder, and whimsy they deserve. Now it's up to you to pass them down."
Fans loved it, critics raved about it, and it stormed up the charts. The album even took home the Album of the Year trophy at the 63rd Grammy Awards, making Swift the first woman to ever win the award three times.
But Swift wasn't done. On December 11, 2020, she released "Evermore," the follow-up to "Folklore." Swift and Dessner continued collaborating after "Folklore" was released.
"To put it plainly, we just couldn't stop writing songs," Swift wrote on Instagram. "To try and put it more poetically, it feels like we were standing on the edge of the folklorian woods and had a choice: to turn and go back or to travel further into the forest of this music."
Swift subsequently released re-recorded versions of her albums "Fearless" and "Red." Swift also made an appearance at the MTV Video Music Awards this year to announce her next album, "Midnights."
Swift Edits Video After Being Labeled As Body-Shaming
While many were hoping to celebrate Swift's new album during the first week of its release, controversy was not far behind.
In the video for one of the new tracks, "Anti-Hero," Swift steps onto a scale to weigh herself. The scale is shown to read the word "fat," while Swift's alter-ego looks on and seemingly shakes her head in disappointment.
Many users online accused Swift of being fatphobic and body-shaming. As a response to the criticism, Swift had the video edited, so no words show up on the scale at all.
"I'm sure there's a ton of nuance to Taylor's personal experience, but nuance is not what you get from that scene — instead, you get yet another quick hit reminder that fat is a terrible thing to have, to be, to feel," wrote Amanda Richards in her online newsletter.
Still, Swift had her defenders. Since she openly discussed her experience with disordered eating, fans are saying that she's just reflecting her own experience.
"Taylor wasn’t showing how being ‘fat’ is bad, she’s showing how body dysmorphia affects HER, and HER struggle with it, stop making it about yourselves," tweeted one user.
Singer Manuela Claims Swift Copied Visuals From Her Video
But there was still more controversy to come. Columbian singer Manuela appeared to be accusing Swift of copying their work. Manuela created a TikTok that has since gone viral, comparing footage from their video, "Glimmer," with Swift's "Anti-Hero."
"Glimmer" was released this past April. In the video, Manuela looks in a mirror while their clone hovers behind them, just as Swift portrays in her video. In both videos, they high-five their clones, then climb on a roof. In Manuela's video, they push their clone off the roof, where Swift shoves her's off the bed. Other similarities included scenes with purple glitter and playing with dollhouse pieces.
Manuela added the following text to their caption, "I'm literally a #swiftie so it's simultaneously painful and such an honor to even beg this question - am i on a moodboard??"
"I know that so many ppl who follow me and I'm asking for help from are terrified to side with me bc it implies that they're against Taylor. She is POWERFUL. Who wouldn't be terrified?" the singer said in their Instagram Story.
"But please: How do you think this whole thing makes me, a Swiftie, feel? Can you picture me staying up to listen to Midnights and to watch the 'Anti-Hero' music video premiere only to watch my work play out at me? A #1 trending video on YouTube a copy paste of mine. Having to read promo posts that wink at a concept album like mine," they continued. "Unfortunately, I will not be shutting up about this anytime soon."
Singer-songwriter Kehlani seemed to defend Manuela by reposting their note on their Instagram Story.
Swift has yet to address these allegations. However, the album "Midnights" is already the best-selling album of 2022. Swift might be making headlines, but at the end of the day, people love the music. As long as that stays the top priority of the public, it looks like Swift will be just fine.
