Taylor Swift's team has hit back at a controversial opinion piece that speculated about the singer’s sexuality that was published in The New York Times.
Journalist Anna Marks recently had a 5,000-word article published in the respected title that speculated about Swift’s sexuality - and how the multi-time Grammy-winner uses LGBT references in her music and performances.
It has been met with outrage from Swift fans - referred to as Swifties - and those in the LGBT community.
A source close to the star has also hit back at the article. They told CNN: "Because of her massive success, in this moment there is a Taylor-shaped hole in people's ethics. This article wouldn't have been allowed to be written about Shawn Mendes or any male artist whose sexuality has been questioned by fans.
"There seems to be no boundary some journalists won't cross when writing about Taylor, regardless of how invasive, untrue, and inappropriate it is all under the protective veil of an opinion piece."
Marks claimed in her piece that Swift "drops hairpins" throughout her work - supposedly a coded reference to indicate that someone is gay.
Meanwhile, Marks claimed that dance routines in Swift’s Eras Tour could be read as a tribute to Loie Fuller, a lesbian choreographer. She also pointed out that Swift mentions The Ladder, an early lesbian publication in the US.
Marks wrote: "Sometimes, Ms Swift communicates through explicit sartorial choices of hair, the colours of the bisexual pride flag, or a recurring motif of rainbow dresses. She frequently depicts herself as trapped in glass closets or, well, in regular closets."
Marks said these factors combined: “Suggest to queer people that she is one of us".
Swift, 34, is undoubtedly a supporter of the LGBT movement, but has denied she is gay or bisexual in the past. She has referred to herself as an LGBT ally.
Recently, Swift appeared to address speculation about her sexuality in a foreword to a new version of her album 1989, where she said she surrounded herself with female friends for a period of time in order for speculation about her love life to stop - but that it had not stopped the gossiping about her private affairs.
In a 2019 interview with Vogue, Swift also spoke about her relationship with the LGBT community. She said: "Rights are being stripped from basically everyone who isn't a straight white cisgender male. I didn't realise until recently that I could advocate for a community that I'm not a part of." Swift has also described herself as a "straight ally".
Fans spoke out about the piece online.
One wrote: “Just cancelled my subscription. This article is sexist and grossly inappropriate.”
Another added: “'There is something deeply wrong with the New York Times publishing this article speculating that Taylor Swift may be secretly queer—based on absolutely nothing. This is the kind of garbage that belongs in the supermarket checkout next to the National Enquirer.”
Swift is currently in a relationship with NFL star Travis Kelce. She has been linked to singer Joe Jonas, the Twilight actor Taylor Lautner and the Hollywood actor Jake Gyllenhaal, pop star Harry Styles, the DJ and producer Calvin Harris, and the actors Tom Hiddleston and Joe Alwyn.
She was with Alwyn for six years before splitting with the actor this time last year.
Swift’s team has been contacted for comment.
