Taylor Swift's team slams 'invasive, untrue, and inappropriate' rumours about pop star's sexuality

An opinion piece published by The New York Times this week, speculating about Taylor Swift's sexuality, has ignited a wave of criticism from the pop superstar's team. A source close to the situation, speaking on the condition of anonymity, expressed discontent, suggesting a "double standard" in the media's treatment of Swift "compared to male artists like Shawn Mendes".

Taylor Swift's team calls the reports 'invasive'

To CNN, Taylor Swift's associate highlighted a perceived lack of boundaries in journalism when it comes to the pop star, emphasising that certain reports, as in this case, might be considered "invasive, untrue, and inappropriate". They pointed out that similar speculation might not be tolerated by male artists facing questions about their sexuality.

"Because of her massive success, in this moment there is a Taylor-shaped hole in people’s ethics. There seems to be no boundary some journalists won’t cross when writing about Taylor, regardless of how invasive, untrue, and inappropriate it is - all under the protective veil of an ‘opinion piece," the spokesperson said.

What caused the controversy?

The controversial opinion piece, authored by The Times' editor Anna Marks, delved into Taylor Swift's LGBTQ references in her songs and performances. Marks proposed the idea that the singer may have been signalling her identification with the queer community for years. The lengthy piece analysed various elements, such as lyrics and performances, to build a case for Swift's connection to the LGBTQ community.

Taylor Swift has been an advocate for LGBTQ

While Taylor Swift has been an advocate for LGBTQ rights and described her concerts as a "safe space" for the community, she has consistently denied being a member of the LGBTQ community. In a 2019 interview with Vogue magazine, Swift emphasised her role as an ally, stating that she advocates for a community she's not part of.

The pop star has previously addressed societal speculation about her relationships, noting in the prologue to her re-recorded 1989 album that she surrounded herself with female friends to counter sensationalised narratives.