Taylor Swift Speaks Out on Feud with Kim Kardashian, Kanye West, and Criticizes Music Industry
In a candid interview with Time, Taylor Swift opened up about the toll of her high-profile spat with Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, as well as her criticisms of the music industry’s treatment of young pop stars. The interview comes as Time named Swift their person of the year.
Swift spoke about the psychological damage caused by her feud with Kardashian and West, and she lambasted the music industry for its short-term approach to handling artists. She criticized record labels for seeking to replace rather than nurture their stars, claiming that by the time an artist is mature enough to handle the job, they are typically discarded at 29 and replaced with new, younger talent.
The singer also spoke out against her former label, Big Machine, which she accused of keeping her on a tight artistic leash and second-guessing her creative choices. The working relationship between Swift and Big Machine ended in acrimony, with Swift opposing the transferral of ownership of her albums to music manager Scooter Braun, with whom she had clashed.
Swift’s animosity towards Braun dates back to when he managed Kanye West, particularly surrounding West’s song “Famous,” which featured a derogatory lyric about Swift. The feud dominated tabloid press and social media for years, and Swift expressed how it took a significant toll on her mental health.
Despite these challenges, Swift expressed pride in her 2017 album “Reputation,” referring to it as “a goth-punk moment of female rage.” She also discussed her love life, ongoing projects, and addressed comparisons between her tours and Beyoncé’s.
Swift also expressed optimism about the growing popularity of female pop stars, stating that it was heartening to see feminine ideas becoming lucrative and leading to more female art being made.
Overall, Swift’s interview shed light on the personal and professional struggles she has faced in the spotlight, while also highlighting her resilience and determination to navigate the music industry on her own terms.