You went to the Eras tour at Arrowhead? You’re not like one of those crazy swifties?”
I remember hearing these 16 words come out of people’s mouths after I told them about my summer break.
It wasn’t shocking though- Swifties are everywhere, and the hype is hard to ignore.
No matter how often you turn on the TV, one topic is always trending— Taylor Swift. Yet it’s not always about her, but oddly enough, her fans.
Swifties this, Swifties that, Swifties everything.
Yet, as a “Swiftie,” I didn’t understand all the controversy surrounding us. We did just what all fans do: we cheered, celebrated, and loudly sang music until our voices were gone.
According to some, that was the exact problem.
We are seen as too much. We are labeled obsessive and annoying because we express excitement in extravagant ways. “Don’t scream, cheer, or yell,” they said. “She’s just a singer!’”
That simply wasn’t true. Taylor Swift isn’t just a singer, she’s a beloved musician with power, influence, and over 300 music awards.
However, many people still don’t understand why others idolize her. Swifties idolize Taylor Swift for the same reasons football fans idolize athletes, like Travis Kelce or Patrick Mahomes, for their motivation and determination to make their respective fields better and more enjoyable.
Yet as I continuously watched video after video about the Chiefs and their ‘esteemed recognitions’, I couldn’t help but think, “Aren’t Chiefs football fans the same as Swifties? Aren’t they also expressing happiness for the fame and awards their teams are receiving?”
Apparently, they aren’t. They’re seen as “passionate and supportive” of their favorite team. Football fans can chant and yell for their favorite players, and it’s deemed loyalty.
But, if Taylor Swift fans do the same, it’s considered childish and obnoxious.
Am I not a supporter of my favorite musician? Do I exaggerate my feelings about Taylor Swift? Is the way I’m expressing my emotions wrong? Or is it just related to the differences between musicians and athletes?
I am a diehard fan of Taylor Swift, just like any sports fan is about their team. However, a barrier was built between us fans. This is not a singular occasion.
Fans of celebrities ranging from Harry Styles to Kim Kardashian have all experienced the hatred spewed by others. Whether the division is caused by boy-band origins/splits or billion-dollar companies, many other groups of people have used their platforms to spread hate and resentment.
This shows that some fan bases can ruin other fandoms just because they dislike the attention that others are getting.
The constant chatter about Taylor Swift throughout the media has caused problems, especially her appearances at the Chiefs football games.
A football fan could wear sports merch, like jerseys, to any event, but it’s seen as overzealous if a Swiftie wears celebrity merch.
A football fan could dedicate an entire room to sports posters and their team’s colors, but it’s distasteful if a Swiftie does the same for their favorite musician.
A football fan could spend hundreds of dollars to go to each game, but it’s seen as excessive if a Swiftie pays the same amount for a concert ticket.
The double standard is evident. Our voices and opinions are diminished, yet others are upholstered and cherished.
Through the use of social media, it feels as though the hate comments never stop. Why can’t our excitement be seen the same? It was like the world couldn’t grasp our passion.
But I remember leaving Arrowhead stadium that summer night in July, watching the fireworks explode and confetti shower down on us. At that moment, I knew I was part of more than a concert. I was part of a celebration similar to the ones after the Cheifs win the Superbowl. Seeing those smiling faces proved that the rest of the world was black and white, but we [Swifties] were in screaming color.