Taylor Swift: Don't call my break-up songs 'boybashing' – that's sexist
Award-winning singer also spoke about reputation for 'boy-bashing' songs
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Taylor Swift has gone on the offensive over the media’s “sexist” presentation of her dating history and song-writing process.
In an interview with The Daily Telegraph the 25-year-old singer, the first artist since the Beatles to spend six or more weeks at number one in the US with three consecutive albums, said she was often simplified into a bunny boiler-type character.
“There was a bit of a reputation for having a lot of boy-bashing songs,” she said. “Which is a sexist way of saying heartbreak songs.”
Swift, who is currently promoting her latest album 1989, added: “To trivialise someone who’s heartbroken is really cruel.”
The singer also spoke – briefly – about her personal life. “I haven’t dated anyone in years so there’s less chatter about the serial dater thing.”
Swift, whose high profile friendships with fellow singer Ed Sheeran and models such as Karlie Kloss are well documented by the star’s impressive social media presence, continued: “I’m in a different place in my life, where love isn’t really a priority.”
She added that despite winning seven Grammy Awards, she is now “just really excited at an awards show when they don’t make some weird joke about my dating life.”
It is not the first time the American performer has spoken out about sexism. In an interview with an Australian radio show, she took exception to the claim she only wrote about her romantic life.
"Frankly, I think that's a very sexist angle to take. No one says that about Ed Sheeran. No one says that about Bruno Mars.”
“They're all writing songs about their exes, their current girlfriends, their love life and no one raises a red flag there," she told the somewhat taken aback presenters.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments