Country singer and activist Chely Wright, who publicly came out as gay in 2010, has expressed her dismay over a New York Times opinion piece that speculates about Taylor Swift's sexuality. Wright, known for her song "Single White Female" and her advocacy for LGBTQ rights, called the op-ed "triggering" and "awful."
The controversial 5,000-word guest essay, titled "Look What We Made Taylor Swift Do," suggests that Swift might be a closeted queer woman, interpreting subtextual signals about her sexuality. The piece also delves into pivotal moments in pop culture and the progress made in LGBTQ rights since Swift's career began, including Chely Wright's coming out.
Wright, having faced her own challenges coming out as a Christian from rural Kansas, found the op-ed unsettling. The article, which discusses the intersection of pop culture and LGBTQ issues, has drawn criticism for speculating on Swift's sexuality without clear evidence.
The controversy extends beyond Swift, with an anonymous source suggesting a double standard in journalism, claiming that similar articles would not be written about male artists like Shawn Mendes. The source questioned the boundaries journalists seem willing to cross when writing about Swift, labeling the content as invasive, untrue, and inappropriate under the guise of an "opinion piece."
As of now, representatives for Swift and the New York Times have not responded to requests for comments on the op-ed. The criticism highlights the sensitive nature of discussing a person's sexuality in the media, especially when based on speculation rather than concrete information.
