Taylor Swift recently made headlines for her response to critics who have reviewed her latest album, “The Tortured Poets Department.” The Grammy winner took to Instagram Stories to shout out writers penning positive reviews of the album, celebrating her success with her own song lyrics.
In one instance, Swift reposted Rolling Stone’s review titled “Come for the Torture, Stay for the Poetry” and expressed her gratitude, referencing a line from the titular track of her 11th record. She also responded to the Independent’s review, which called her work “irresistible,” with another lyric from the album, showcasing her appreciation for the positive feedback.
Additionally, Swift acknowledged the Times’ five-star review by quoting a lyric from “The Alchemy,” indicating her excitement over the positive reception of her music. It is worth noting that the singer included the names of the reviewers in her social media posts, highlighting their contributions to the critical discourse surrounding her work.
Addressing Safety Concerns
However, the singer’s acknowledgment of critics comes in stark contrast to a recent incident involving Paste Magazine, which opted to remove a critic’s byline due to safety concerns. The publication cited threats of violence directed towards a negative reviewer of Swift’s previous album, “Lover,” as the reason behind their decision to prioritize staff safety over author attribution.
The critical response to Swift’s latest album has been mixed, with Paste Magazine publishing a scathing review attributing the negative critique to “Paste Staff.” The review described Swift’s lyrics as her “worst to date” and disparaged the album’s first single, “Fortnight,” for featuring an “out-of-place guest performer” and being overly opaque in its message.
Despite the mixed reviews, “The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology” has broken records on Spotify, surpassing 300 million streams in a single day. The album’s 31 tracks have garnered attention for their references to exes, Joe Alwyn and Matty Healy, as well as Swift’s longstanding feud with Kim Kardashian.
Taylor Swift’s response to critics reflects her willingness to engage with feedback, both positive and negative, regarding her music. While some reviewers have expressed reservations about her latest album, the record-breaking success of “The Tortured Poets Department” demonstrates the enduring appeal of Swift’s music to her dedicated fan base.