Apple Music has now removed the scene following the controversy
‘Anti-Hero’ was a highly personal music video for pop star Taylor Swift. Yet, when it dropped last Friday, the song was knee-deep in controversy, with Swift receiving backlash. It was caused by a single scene. Read on to know more and the consequences.
The Scene That Got Taylor Swift in Trouble
In the Taylor Swift son ‘Anti-Hero,’ we see her standing on a scale, and the needle points at the word “FAT.” This prompted many watchers to blame the singer for being fatphobic. It caused Apple Music to remove the scene from the music video on Wednesday. It was spotted by some fans of Swift on Twitter. At present, it’s still present in the YouTube version of the video.
However, it’s clear that the singer is not fatphobic but self-conscious about her own image. In the 2020 documentary Miss Americana, Swift spoke about how she struggled with body image. She has said that ‘Anti-Hero’ is deeply personal and one of her favourite songs ever written since she has never delved deep into her insecurities like this before. Before the release of Midnights, her album, she said that the song contained things she hated about herself, something almost everybody hates about themselves.
Defending Taylor Swift
After social media started circulating the backlash, hosts of The View came to support Swift on Tuesday’s episode. Sunny Hostin spoke about the critics missing the point and that since Taylor is an artist, she has agency over her artistry. She added that the singer was sharing personal experiences, and it’s something a lot of women and men experience.
Billboard has reached out to Taylor Swift for a comment, but no response has come as of yet. Check out the official music video for ‘Anti-Hero’ below.
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