Thread by @HollyStallcup

Before I leave for NYC, here is my thread on seeing Taylor this weekend while she is dating a racist, Islamophobic, anti-semitic overall problematic white man. While I don't necessarily "owe" anyone this thread, it is important to me to take my public leadership seriously.

I have spent the last two weeks trying to listen to as many marginalized fans of Taylor as I can. Trying to follow their lead on how we can or can't separate the person from the art. I don't have easy answers and don't know what I will do past this weekend.

Some marginalized fans are choosing to keep engaging with Taylor's music at some level and some aren't. I am trying to figure out my place with my privilege.

It is not news to me that Taylor is not a bastion of intersectionality. I would not call her a role model for my littles.

Taylor's financial situation alone is enough reason for me to stand on the opposite side of her ethically. I want our government to tax the shit out of her earnings and will continue to vote to make that happen. Billionaires shouldn't exist.

I have wrestled with attending her concert this weekend and know that her shitty, harmful decision to date this man will impact my experience in ways that I wish it wouldn't. I also know the bulk of white women that will be there have not thought critically about being there.

I often wish that public figures would simply talk about the private wrestling they are doing with complicated things even in broad terms like I am doing here. This is me acknowledging the reality that is happening and saying to you I am not just ignoring it.

Taylor is doing something wrong & harmful. She doesn't hold responsibility for men's actions. She DOES hold responsibility for her own. My biggest commitment is to keep following the lead of marginalized fans in this situation. Following that lead I'm choosing to go this weekend.

I know that I have to continue to interrogate if I'm just looking for marginalized fans saying it is "OK" to keep being a fan because that is what I want to hear & not listening to everyone. I know that the end result may be disengaging with Taylor's music for a time or forever.

I don't know that I am making the "right" decision but I know I am trying. I know that celebrity continues to be problematic for me overall especially around money but I also know that Lizzo and Kelsi Ballerini (a white woman in country music) are doing what I wish Taylor was.

Also, yes, Taylor has a responsibility to speak up about things. If I need to write this essay with eight thousand something followers she needs to be outspoken about the myriad of violence happening across our country. (I know that there are security things that factor in.)

I also wanted to acknowledge that through a set of circumstances I could never have expected the tickets I have are very nice tickets. A lot of you pay my salary & so it's important for me to acknowledge I have a ticket that through a very unexpected path was affordable for me.

Again, I don't necessarily think I "owe" you that information but it will give me freedom I need to fully enjoy this gift to let you know that I continue to believe a budget is a moral document both at Rise and for me personally and I am holding the tension of the ticket I have.

That is NOT to say that people who bought full price more expensive tickets made a morally wrong choice. Just to say that I know I talk a lot about money publicly and so always want to hold expensive things with tension and thought.

I’m planning to try and post with freedom now this weekend. I have had a truly horrific five months and want to remember joy. I’m going to my favorite city with one of my favorite people to sing music that gives me many good things.

I’ve kept comments closed here because in this I’m not looking for feedback or affirmation. I’m not going to dialogue with Swifties who don’t appreciate my criticism here & I’m not looking to be lauded as some wonderful person for really doing the bare minimum.

If you are a fan of Taylor who falls into a marginalized group more intimately impacted by this I would be happy and honored to hear from you.

Thanks for listening & for letting me be human. Sequined romper pictures coming soon!