Taylor Swift skipped Grammys to protest sexual harassment allegations against recording academy, speculate fans
Amidst the glitz and glamour of the 62nd Grammy Awards, some notable artists were missing from the crowd and Taylor Swift was among them. She was nominated this year for her album 'Lover'. Swift won no awards on the night, upsetting fans who claim she was 'robbed'.
But Swift herself has been silent about the event. While she was initially confirmed to attend and possibly perform, she pulled out at the last minute leaving many wondering whether this was due to the recent allegations from ousted CEO Deborah Dugan regarding sexual assault and voter bias at the Grammys.
In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, Grammys showrunner Ken Ehrlich says Swift had already begun planning for her performance at the show, adding, "She wanted to do something on a satellite stage with a guitar and a stool, simple, so I fit that into the show."
Ehrlich went on to say that the statements about Swift 'pulling out' of the show are inaccurate.
He stated, "No. She was never confirmed to perform... I saw her in early January at Billboard's Women in Music event and I said, 'Do you want to perform?' She said 'I don't think so, I don't know. Let me think about it.' Probably 10 days before the show, one of her representatives called me and said 'Taylor's thought about it and she wants to be there for your last show.' I said, 'I’d love her to be there. Let's figure it out.' I did put her in one rundown meeting that we had as a TBD. As it turned out, I don't remember the date, but she declined. She had not been confirmed, so the headlines that said 'Taylor pulls out of Grammys' — that's not true."
Swift's absence naturally has many speculating why she chose not to attend the Grammys this year. In recent news it was revealed that Swift's mother, who was undergoing treatment for breast cancer, was found to have a brain tumor. Speaking of the experience, Swift stated that "it’s just been a really hard time for us as a family". Some wonder if her absence was simply due to her having to deal with personal struggles behind the scenes.
However, some fans claim that Swift was making a statement by choosing not to attend the Grammys this year. Other celebrities including Rihanna, Adele, JayZ, Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus and Halsey were also inexplicably missing from the event, causing many to see it as a silent way for the artists to protest against the recent allegations.
Some have criticized Swift for being a 'fake' feminist, claiming she chooses to be vocal when it suits her. They also called her out for saying in her recent documentary 'Miss Americana' that she was shedding her 'nice girl image' in favor of being more vocal about what she stands for. Others have countered this claim saying Swift's silence was her way of fighting against the Grammy organization and what it has come to represent. It is said that by not attending an event shrouded in controversy and allegations of sexual assault, Swift has made a clear statement about who she stands in solidarity with.