Taylor Swift Responds To Claims That She’s A ‘Nazi Barbie’
Taylor Swift is hitting back at famed feminist Camille Paglia who claims that the singer is a “Nazi Barbie” when it comes to her star-studded squad.
The “Wildest Dreams” singer, who just celebrated her 26th birthday, is criticizing the claims that she is a “Nazi Barbie.” Swift claims that the only reason why she invited her celebrity friends on stage at her 1989 World Tour is because they simply supported her. Swift spoke out after she was attacked by Camille Paglia, who said in her essay for the Hollywood Reporter that Swift’s squad represents a “regressive public image.”
“Swift herself should retire that obnoxious Nazi Barbie routine of wheeling out friends and celebrities as performance props.”
But Paglia hasn’t been the only one who criticized Swift’s girl squad. Even Girl Meets World star Rowan Blanchard thinks that the singer’s group of friends doesn’t do much for feminism when they seem more exclusive, rather than inclusive.
“Sisterhood is something so valid and important when you are growing up that I literally think the essence of it should be taught in schools. But, the ‘squads’ we see in the media are very polarizing. Feminism and friendship are supposed to be inclusive, and most of these ‘squads’ are strictly exclusive.”
But Tay Tay thinks that it would be “weird” if she didn’t include her friends in her performances on her world tour. In recent quotes published in the December 14 article in the Telegraph, the country-turned-pop star said that her friends deserved to be on stage since they supported her career. Taylor also said it was the only way that her friends could all see each other since they are busy with their hectic work schedules.
“It would be weird not to include my friends. These are the people who helped me get to the point I could make this album. We have some of the most amazing memories around this tour.
“My friends would fly out, we’d all be in one place. It actually became a way for us all to get together when we’re all really busy. We’d all just say: ‘Meeting up in London, Hyde Park Show, let’s do this.’ “
It’s not just Taylor’s friends who have joined her on stage. Other celebrities who have joined the singer on stage include Idina Menzel, Leona Lewis, Mick Jagger, Steven Tyler, Julia Roberts, and Grey’s Anatomy star Ellen Pompeo, along with many other artists, entertainers, and athletes.
“Such obscene and insensitive equations have no place in our cultural discourse and only serve to demean and trivialize the memory and suffering of the victims.”
In Swift’s recent interview with Vogue Australia, she said that her girl squad is one of her “favorite things” at the moment. (Sorry, DJ Calvin Harris.) She admitted that for the first time in her life, she finally feels surrounded by such a strong and supportive group of women. Swift insists that every one of her friends “really have each others’ back.”
The singer also insisted that it’s not that hard to get into her squad. Most of the time, Taylor will tell someone that she’s a huge fan of his or her work, and then a friendship will blossom out of it. That’s how Taylor became friends with the singer Lorde. She sent flowers, telling the “Royals” singer that she was a huge fan of her debut album, and then they became the best of friends.
What are your thoughts on Camille Paglia’s essay? Do you agree with what she said? Or, do you believe that Taylor’s friendships are genuine? Sound off below in the comments section.
[Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images]
