Dropping a Hairpin Implies LGBTQ+? Taylor Swift Fans 'Furious' Over NYT Column

"Implying Sexual Minorities"... "NYT Boycott"

A New York Times (NYT) column claiming that pop singer Taylor Swift, who has risen as an "icon of American popular culture," hints at being LGBTQ in her songs and performances has sparked fierce criticism.

"Swift hints at being LGBTQ in lyrics and stage... Come out," NYT column's claim

American pop star Taylor Swift. [Image source=AFP·Yonhap News]

On the 6th, the British Daily Mail reported that "NYT has become the target of anger to the extent that Swift fans are canceling their subscriptions," highlighting the fury of Swift's fans. The reason for such anger among Swift's fans is that on the 4th, Anna Marks, an NYT editor, wrote a column titled "Look at what we made Taylor Swift do," claiming that Swift has been hinting at being queer (LGBTQ) all along.

Marks argued, "Some of Swift's song lyrics, performances, and costumes can be interpreted as hints related to LGBTQ." For example, Marks cited the lyric "when I dropped the hairpin" in Swift's song and a performance where she dropped a hairpin on stage. In the U.S., "dropping a hairpin" is known as a way to hint at being homosexual.

Marks also pointed out that Swift released the song "ME!" on April 26, 2019, which is the "Lesbian Visibility Day," and the music video features a woman covered in rainbow paint, symbolizing LGBTQ, rejecting a man's marriage proposal and instead marrying a cat.

Marks further mentioned that Swift has repeatedly used rainbow colors symbolizing LGBTQ and bisexual rights, as well as pink, purple, and blue costumes or props, and performed on stage as if behind a closet door. The expression "being in the closet" is a metaphor for LGBTQ individuals hiding their identity.

She then suggested, "How about coming out in a language the public can understand?" and claimed, "Regardless of how she personally views her sexual orientation and identity, she has chosen to acknowledge the possibility that her work hints at being a lesbian." Marks added that this was "to leave open the possibility of interpretation of her work."

Foreign media, insiders, and fans 'outraged'... Criticism of 'very inappropriate reporting'

Taylor Swift, selected as TIME magazine's 'Person of the Year 2023'. [Image source=Captured from TIME official website]

Regarding this column, CNN pointed out, "It is very unusual for a prestigious media outlet like NYT to publish an article speculating about an individual's sexual orientation," adding, "Such articles are widely known to be inappropriate and have been criticized by readers."

Swift's close associates rebutted, saying, "Due to her tremendous recent success, there is now a significant ethical gap concerning her," and "Such speculation is untrue and very inappropriate, yet it tramples on a person's dignity under the guise of freedom of expression." Swift's fans also fiercely criticized, saying, "Even for a famous person known to the public, the media should not publicize private sexual identity," and "It is wrong to force Swift to come out whether she is LGBTQ or not."

Swift has never directly revealed her sexual orientation but has made several statements implying she is not LGBTQ. In a 2019 interview, she said about the LGBTQ community, "Until recently, I did not realize that I could support a community I do not belong to," expressing that while she is not LGBTQ, she supports actions for LGBTQ rights. Swift is currently publicly dating Travis Kelce, a male American football player.

Meanwhile, since her debut in 2006, Swift has gained worldwide fame, especially earning about $1.82 billion (approximately 2.4 trillion KRW) last year from her "The Eras" world tour concerts and album sales, coining the term "Swiftonomics."

The American newsweekly Time named Swift the 2023 "Person of the Year" last month, explaining, "This year, she has emitted historic energy comparable to nuclear fusion in art and commerce." Additionally, on the 1st, Swift set a new solo artist record by holding the No. 1 spot on Billboard's main album chart for 68 weeks, surpassing Elvis Presley.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.