Pop star Taylor Swift apparently struck a nerve with leftists and Internet trolls this week after she said she “couldn’t have asked for a better year” in 2017 and thanked her fans in a birthday Instagram post.
“I love you guys so much,” Swift captioned a photo taken at a recent London concert. “I couldn’t have asked for a better year, all thanks to you. Thanks for all the birthday wishes. Can’t wait to see what 28 will be like. See you on tour.”
That simple message was apparently too much for some Twitter users — and at least a few media outlets — who questioned how Swift could have a “great year” with all the tragedy occurring in the world, including the election of President Donald Trump.
“Is there anything more annoying than Taylor Swift talking about what a great year 2017 has been while everyone else is fighting for our lives under Trump?” wrote one Twitter user.
“I mean, yeah there were Nazi’s and and white supremacy marches, and families are being town apart, and there were mass shootings, and people are losing health care, but none of that affects me, so 2017 was great! [sic]” wrote another.
There was plenty of similar sentiment on Twitter.
Of course, Swift likely had a lot in her life to be thankful for this year.
Her latest album, reputation, immediately went to No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart and became the best-selling album of the year, even if it wasn’t as popular as her smash hit album 1989. For her tour this year, she’s trying a new “slow ticketing” method that is bound to gross her far more money and ensure that scalpers stay away from her shows, and the music industry will likely follow her lead.
Swift also won her sexual assault counter-suit against a DJ she had accused of groping her, and was featured on Time magazine’s Person of the Year cover. And she also has a new boyfriend, Joe Alwyn, a 26-year-old British actor who will reportedly join her on tour next year.
But all of this good stuff was just too much for New York Magazine‘s The Cut, which proclaimed: “A Straight, White Multi-Millionaire Pop Star Had a Great 2017.”
The article claimed Swift couldn’t have possibly enjoyed the year, because Trump was elected president, there was a horrific mass shooting in Las Vegas, wildfires have torched Southern California, and sexual assault allegations have swept media, politics, and entertainment.
“And that’s just to name a few!” the author wrote. “But anyway, congrats to the now 28-year-old Taylor Swift for being the only person to enjoy 2017.”
Buzzfeed also rounded up some of the Internet’s negative reaction to Swift’s post.
“We can all agree that it’s been A Year. So Taylor’s comments were met with… mixed responses,” the Buzzfeed author wrote. “Like whoooooo could possibly say 2017 was a good year?”
Meanwhile, numerous Twitter users defended Swift, explaining that anything she says is now likely to draw backlash.
Of course, Swift likely doesn’t care about the controversy anyway. She is preparing to spend the holidays with her new boyfriend, and is probably rehearsing for what will almost certainly be the top-grossing tour of 2018, and/or counting her money.
Follow Daniel Nussbaum on Twitter: @dznussbaum
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