Taylor Swift has announced her decision to boycott red states in response to Donald Trump’s recent re-election. In an emotional Instagram post, Swift declared she would no longer be performing in states that voted for Trump, explaining that she can’t “in good conscience bring her music to places that support divisive and regressive leaders.” Swift’s decision, which comes just days after the election results, has left millions of fans reeling, with reactions ranging from outrage to applause. For red-state Swifties, it feels like heartbreak, while her blue-state followers are rallying around her decision as a bold stance for progressivism.
“This is a personal and painful choice,” Swift wrote in her announcement. “But as someone who believes in equality and love, I simply can’t perform in states where those values aren’t upheld. I encourage all my fans to think about the world we’re building and how we can create spaces for unity and progress.”
For many Swift fans, the boycott has been a bombshell. Thousands of devoted fans who call red states home are grappling with what they see as an abandonment by the artist they’ve grown up with and admired. Social media has been flooded with fans pleading for Swift to reconsider, some asking if she’s willing to alienate millions of her own supporters over political differences.
