“Controversy in America Surrounding Taylor Swift’s Sexuality: Sending Secret Messages to the LGBTQ+ Community

The New York Times Faces Backlash for Speculating on Taylor Swift’s Sexuality.

In a 5,000-word opinion piece, editor Anna Marks highlighted references to the LGBTQ+ community within Swift’s music, suggesting a theory that the singer is covertly sending coded messages indicating her potential membership in this community. Marks contends that the culmination of these instances “suggests to queer individuals that she is one of them.”

Citing the example of American country music singer Chely Wright, who revealed waiting years before coming out due to personal reasons tied directly to her career, Marks drew parallels in the article. The piece triggered reactions from both Times readers and Swift’s “associates,” according to CNN. The New York-based newspaper and the representatives of the 34-year-old artist, named Time magazine’s Person of the Year in 2023, did not respond to AFP’s inquiries.

The controversial article was labeled as “intrusive, inaccurate, and inappropriate” by an anonymous member of Taylor Swift’s circle, as quoted by CNN. Numerous readers also criticized The New York Times, rejecting the notion that the American teenage idol could be a lesbian who has yet to acknowledge her sexual orientation. Swift, beloved by her fans – “Swifties” – openly advocates for LGBTQ rights but has never identified herself as a lesbian.

Contrarily, over the years, she has been known for her romantic relationships with several male celebrities. The singer of hits such as “Shake It Off,” “Anti-Hero,” and “You Need To Calm Down,” whose career took off in Nashville, the birthplace of country music, has been romantically linked for a few months with American football player Travis Kelce from the Kansas City Chiefs. She, now seen as an icon of feminism, has simultaneously shaken up the music industry with an enormously successful tour.