Taylor Swift’s “Pride Month” activism is drawing accusations of opportunistic virtue signaling by liberal outlets such as Vox, Esquire and The Atlantic.
LGBT activists such as RuPaul and Ellen Degeneres abound in the singer’s latest video, “You Need to Calm Down,” but her over-the-top and self-focused performance is raising the eyebrows of ideological allies.
The media watchdog compiled a list of industry reactions to the video, which question if Ms. Swift is more interested in making quick profits from Pride Month activism than anything else.
“Equating online haters with the personal and societal struggle of LGBTQ+ people is, at best, tone deaf,” Esquire wrote June 14. “And such a calculated move to leverage LGBTQ rights into her own image seems gross. … If you’re going to leverage the power of your fanbase to send a political message, why insert yourself into that conversation?”
Vox lamented the singer’s video as “a complicated example of Pride Month’s commodification.”
Finally, The Atlantic reported on the video’s “queasy double message” of equating LGBT persecution with the downsides of fame.
The Atlantic piece’s original title, still visible via the story’s URL, was titled “Taylor Swift ’You Need to Calm Down’ Hijacks Queerness.”
“Swift even virtue-signals with shots of angry, illiterate, toothless hicks protesting and holding signs that say, ’Get A Brain Morans!’ and ’Homasekualty Is Sin!’ She sings to those who don’t support the LGBT agenda,” NewsBusters noted.
The video ends with a request to sign a Change.Org petition in support of The Equality Act.
Ms. Swift’s new album, “Lover,” is set for release on Aug. 23.
• Douglas Ernst can be reached at dernst@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.