Music

Twitter Reacts To Taylor Swift's "You Need To Calm Down" Video

Taylor Swift YouTube
By Todd Jacobs

Taylor Swift dropped the music video for "You Need to Calm Down" on June 17, 2019, and if the lyrics didn't fill you in, the video's anti-homophobia and pro-LGBTQ+ message isn't up for debate. Featuring a ton of celebrities who identify as LGBTQ, including Ellen DeGeneres, Billy Porter, RuPaul, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Adam Lambert, Todrick Hall, Hayley Kiyoko, Adam Rippon, Chester Lockhart, Dexter Mayfield, Hannah Hart, Antoni Porowski, Jonathan Van Ness, and Tan France, Swift's new rainbow-covered vid is a love letter to that community. 

Swift made her crusade against hate loud and clear at the end of the video with an on-screen message that reads: "Let's show our pride by demanding that, on a national level, our laws truly treat all our citizens equally. Please sign my petition for Senate support of the Equality Act on Change.org." 

Naturally, the Twitter takes came...swiftly. "Taylor swift telling us to calm down as she floats in a pool with a jacket on while her trailer burns in the background is a MOOD," one user quipped. 

"As a gay who was not invited to be in taylor swift's music video, i have no choice but to declare homophobia," comedian Matt Bellassai tweeted.

Bloggers Tom & Lorenzo tweeted that the video was a tear-jerker, writing, "No shame to admit. Didn't have that type of support growing up. Can't speak for the entire community, but I personally appreciate it and thank Taylor Swift."

YouTube

However, a few users weren't buying Swift and fellow pop star Katy Perry's reunion, nor the video's portrayal of redneck protesters. "Lol this picture of Katy Perry and Taylor Swift is the perfect symbol of their unabashed attempts to use feminism as marketing: totally embarrassing and lacking in all nutritional value," tweeted journalist Lauren Duca.

"The new Taylor Swift video...atrocious," one critic tweeted. "I was unsure the past few days what side to take and now I'm def GTFO. The fact she really depicted anti-LGBT protestors as hicks? Girl, many are very privileged people in high places in society. This issue is too important for caricatures." Another wrote: "Yeah I might be cynical but that Taylor Swift video left me cold. I try to think that it's purely intended but I can't help but think it's your classic 'let's crack out a rainbow for pride month' stuff but on a Taylor Swift level that means getting queer people to be set dressing."

Others praised Swift for being an ally: "The gayest video of all time. Thank you Taylor Swift for supporting us and being such an amazing ally. Take a second to sign the petition..." tweeted one fan. Another supporter thanked the video's producer, Todrick Hall and crowned Swift a "true ally" and role model by tweeting: "I am so blown away by this masterpiece of a video." 

Whatever your thoughts on the music video, you can't deny Swift's ability to dominate a news cycle. Shake it off and check out some reactions below:

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