Keith Girard
Taylor Swift, not known to the be the political type, is getting all political now. See why. (Photo: Instagram)
Taylor Swift, never known to be the political type, is getting all political now, but she’s had her own #MeToo moment and cites it as one of the reasons she’s deciding to speak out now ahead of the all-important mid-term elections.
“In the past I’ve been reluctant to publicly voice my political opinions, but due to several events in my life and in the world in the past two years, I feel very differently about that now,” she wrote in an Instagram post that’s already earned 1.4 million likes.
In August a year ago, Swift won her civil sit against DJ David Mueller whom she accused of groping her at an event. Although the singer agreed to accept $1 in compensatory damages, she clearly made a point. The incident left an indelible mark on her psyche.
She talked about it during a concert this past August in Tampa.
“This exact day a year ago, I was not playing a sold-out stadium in Tampa,” she said from the stage.
“I was in a courtroom in Denver, Colorado and, um, honestly I was there for a sexual assault case, and this day a year ago was the day that the jury decided in my favor and said that they believed me,” she added.
She continued:
“And I just wanted to say I’m sorry to anyone who ever wasn’t believed because I don’t know what turn my life would have taken if people didn’t believe me when I said that something had happened to me. So, I guess I just wanted to say that we have so, so, so much further to go, and I’m so grateful to you guys for being there for me during what was a really, really horrible part of my life.”
Then, she took aim at current political climate under President Trump, exemplified by the recent appointment of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court.
“I believe in the fight for LGBTQ rights, and that any form of discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender is WRONG,” she wrote. “I believe that the systemic racism we still see in this country towards people of color is terrifying, sickening and prevalent.”
Swift, who is the ninth-most-followed user on Instagram, with 112 million followers, endorsed Democratic Senate candidate Phil Bredesen and Democratic congressional candidate Jim Cooper in her home state of Tennessee.
She also revealed she will not be voting for Republican Marsha Blackburn.
“Her voting record in Congress appalls and terrifies me. She voted against equal pay for women. She voted against the Reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, which attempts to protect women from domestic violence, stalking, and date rape. She believes businesses have a right to refuse service to gay couples. She also believes they should not have the right to marry. These are not MY Tennessee values.”
In a final message to her fans, she urged them to register to vote.
“So many intelligent, thoughtful, self-possessed people have turned 18 in the past two years and now have the right and privilege to make their vote count. But first you need to register.”
Check out her full statement below.