Taylor Swift Receives Media Backlash Amid Nicki Minaj Feud
Taylor Swift is usually America’s Sweetheart. There are usually thousands of articles published each day about the pop singer’s relationships, friendships, and selfless acts of kindness when it comes to her fans and charity. Until recently. Now Taylor is receiving some major media backlash after getting involved in a Twitter feud with rapper Nicki Minaj.
After Swift’s alleged Twitter beef with Minaj, which was started after the rapper’s “Anaconda” music video was snubbed by the MTV VMAs. Now there has been several think pieces and discussions about Swift’s privileged lifestyle and faux friendships with women.
The media has already slammed the singer for failing to understand Nicki’s frustration over her VMAs nomination. As previously noted via the Huffington Post, Taylor has been accused of “using faux-feminism to silence black women who call out white privilege.” In relation to the topic, The Guardian wrote an article about how Taylor’s response to Nicki was borderline “faux-feminist” and “tone deaf.” Others claimed that Taylor shouldn’t have responded to Nicki’s VMAs complaint since it had nothing to do with her in the first place.
Swift is also getting slammed for her PR moves. A recent article on Gawker boldly titled “Taylor Swift is Not Your Friend,” talks about how the singer “collects best friends” to cement her place in the entertainment world.
“It’s surprising to see smart people talk about Swift with such breathlessly positive overtures, not only because—like pop stars before her and pop stars after her—her music is simple and unfussy and infused with inane platitudes, but also because there appears to be something more opportunistic and sinister at play. When Taylor Swift does the mega-pop stardom act, she does it to the tilt. Swift has to be the person with the prettiest friends, the biggest records, the most popular and successful and groanworthily obvious boyfriend. The underdog narrative that the Swift machine has built is one of forced falsehoods; Swift is not coming from behind. She’s been ahead since she started. And watching her collect best friends during a moment in history when womanhood is finally beginning to feel valued does not only feel uncomfortable—it feels evil.”
Dana Evan’s Gawker ruthlessly cuts Swift where it hurts by pointing out the singer’s women bashing and faux feminism.
“Swift isn’t here to help women—she’s here to make bank. Seeing her on stage cavorting with World Cup winners and supermodels was not a win for feminism, but a win for Taylor Swift. Her plan—to be as famous and as rich as she can possibly be—is working, and by using other women as tools of her self-promotion, she is distilling feminism for her own benefit.”
Salon hasn’t stopped Taylor Swift just yet. The news site has written several pieces, criticizing the singer for cultural appropriation, sex positivity and posing next to a guy who painted a swastika on his clothes, at Katy Perry’s birthday party nonetheless.
It’s any wonder if the media has caught onto Swift’s PR savvy tactics. In the midst of the backlash, Swift’s reps have published articles about her relationship with Calvin Harris and her mother’s cancer diagnosis. Swift could continue to spin this to look good, as the media will continue to judge her on her recent actions.
What are your thoughts? Do you feel there’s a sudden onslaught on backlash against Taylor Swift? Do you think she be criticized as much as she’s praised? Share your thoughts below in the comments section.
[Image: Kevin Winter/Getty Images]
