Taylor Swift's new LGBTQ+ anthem 'You Need to Calm Down' has been dividing queer fans ever since its release. And even more so, since she literally just dropped a shiny new pastel rainbow video to match.
The new video also features a ridiculous roster of gay, lesbian, trans, bisexual and queer celebrities. Ellen DeGeneres, Hayley Kiyoko, all the Queer Eye guys, Laverne Cox, Todrick Hall, basically every queen from the latest season of RuPaul's Drag Race, to name a few. Oh and Katy Perry rocked up dressed as a giant hamburger to show everyone their feud is well and truly over OK?!
Whether Taylor is a real ally to her army of LGBTQ+ fans has been debated since, well... ever. But the release of this new song and video has got everyone divided all over again. For context: As well we randomly showing up at iconic LGBTQ+ venue Stonewall Inn in New York to play to an unsuspecting audience this weekend, she's also been donating shit loads of her cash ($113,000 - £90,000) to LGBTQ+ causes recently.
Then, she went and released 'You Need to Calm Down' which is very obviously and without a doubt, a banger. Its lyrics include bazaar but incredibly catchy lines like 'shade never made anyone less gay' and 'why are you mad when you could be GLAAD?' - a possible reference to GLAAD, an LGBTQ+ organisation.
She also ends her new video with the message: 'Let's show our pride by demanding that, on a national level, our laws truly treat all of our citizens equally.' And asking fans to sign a Change.org petition that supports the Equality Act.
Why is it then, that fans are so divided over the song and video? Many people are accusing her of using performative allyship of LGBTQ+ people to make money. Others are saying that as a straight woman, it's not her place to be singing about LGBTQ+ stuff.
One person wrote, 'Hot take: Taylor Swift's sudden co-opting of Pride is obnoxious and lacks any sort of nuance lol. Obv her PR team realised that Supporting Gays is a good marketing strategy n she's trying to jump on that.'
But, Twitter is super divided. Many people simply do not give a shit that she's straight. As long as she's using her celeb powers for good.
'To the people who are saying @taylorswift13 is using the gay community to make money... YOU NEED TO CALM DOWN. She is the biggest pop star on the planet and is vocally taking a stand against so much hate in the world. She has more influence than almost anyone. Let her support us,' wrote Eli Lieb.
And as many people have said, she definitely doesn't need our money.
Others are quick to point out how hypocritical some queer fans are being, after begging her to use her platform for good.
Another user suggested Taylor has been more visible and proactively fighting for LGBTQ+ people than any other celebrity of late.
And of course, the Taylor truthers are out in full swing suggesting this is just a soft launch to her eventually coming out.
Whatever you think of the above, can we at least all agree that 'You Need to Calm Down' is a bop?
Watch the video here:
