In a blow even she didn’t see coming, Taylor Swift is reportedly facing a staggering $1 billion loss as red-state fans boycott her music, merchandise, and concert tickets following her outspoken support for progressive causes in the wake of Trump’s re-election. The boycott, organized by Trump supporters who see Swift’s views as “out of touch” and “Hollywood elitist,” has hit Swift hard in the wallet, with financial analysts estimating that her net worth could plummet if the trend continues.
The fallout began shortly after Swift posted a video endorsing Trump’s opponent, urging her fans to “stand up for equality, justice, and decency.” The message resonated with her fans in blue states, but red-state fans were quick to respond with fury, launching a grassroots boycott against anything and everything Taylor Swift. Now, with concert dates in these states seeing a dramatic drop in ticket sales, the “Shake It Off” singer might find herself singing a new tune about the cost of taking a stand.
What began as a few angry tweets has grown into a full-scale movement. Trump supporters across social media platforms started using the hashtag #BoycottTaylorSwift, calling on red-state fans to “hit her where it hurts” by boycotting her music and merchandise. It wasn’t long before the hashtag went viral, with hundreds of thousands of red-state Swifties pledging to steer clear of anything with Swift’s name on it.
“It’s simple,” said one user from Texas on Twitter. “Taylor thinks she can disrespect half the country and not pay the price? Not on my watch. She can keep her Hollywood politics out of my playlist.”