Taylor Swift Asks Fans to Stop Cyberbullying
Taylor Swift has asked her fans to stop cyberbullying people, including those she may be referencing in her music.
The singer made the request during her Eras Tour stop in Minneapolis on Saturday. Before playing her song “Dear John,” which is widely accepted to be about her ex-boyfriend, John Mayer, Swift addressed the crowd.
“I get to stand on this stage every single night of this tour and watch some of the most beautiful things happen,” she said. “I watch you guys make friends with each other. I watch you bond. I watch you give each other friendship bracelets.”
“I was hoping to ask you that as we lead up to this album coming out, I would love for that kindness and that gentleness to extend onto our internet activities,” Swift continued.
She explained that she is re-releasing her album Speak Now on July 7 as part of her ongoing project re-recording her first six albums after her previous record label, Big Machine Records, sold her masters to Scooter Braun’s Ithaca Holdings.
“Speak Now” contains the song “Dear John,” which is reportedly about her and Mayer’s relationship. The song’s lyrics about a teenage girl dating an older man have been the subject of much controversy.
“I’m 33 years old,” Swift told the crowd. “I don’t care about anything that happened to me when I was 19 except the songs I wrote and the memories we made together.”
She discouraged fans from attacking people online, saying, “I’m not putting this album out so that you can go and should feel the need to defend me on the internet against someone you think I might have written a song about 14 billion years ago.”
Swift’s request comes after a number of high-profile cases of cyberbullying, including the suicide of 14-year-old Molly Russell, who was bullied online after she posted a video of herself singing.
“I hope you’ll all take a moment to think about what you’re doing when you’re interacting with people on the internet,” Swift said. “Remember that words can have a really big impact, and that we should all be mindful of the way we’re treating each other.”
Swift’s request has been met with support from fans and other celebrities. “I love you, Taylor,” wrote Katy Perry on Twitter. “Thank you for using your platform to speak out against cyberbullying.”
“This is so important,” added Demi Lovato. “We need to be kinder to each other, especially online.”
Swift’s request is a reminder that words can have a powerful impact, both positive and negative. By being mindful of the way we interact with each other online, we can help to create a more positive and supportive environment for everyone.
