Taylor Swift Criticized for Yearning to Escape Racism in 1830s

Taylor Swift Faces Backlash for Lyric Saying She Wants to Live in 1830s

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Taylor Swift dropped 31 fresh tracks last Friday, but she's receiving some backlash for a specific line. In her song "I Hate It Here," which is track 23 on The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology, Swift expresses a desire to live in the 1830s. The controversial lyric goes: "My friends and I used to play a game where we'd choose a decade to live in, instead of now. I'd go for the 1830s, minus all the racists and arranged marriages for money."

The Tortured Poets Department double album is over two hours long and contains 10,663 words, as counted by a noble soul at The Ringer who spent 45 minutes doing so. However, one particular line is garnering attention from social media critics.

Observers have pointed out the difficulty in separating the decade from "all the racists" and other atrocities of the time. Some listeners have highlighted that the 1830s are primarily remembered for the Indian Removal Act and Trail of Tears, events that saw approximately 60,000 Native Americans forcibly displaced from their homes, resulting in many deaths. Additionally, in Europe, this period was marked by a cholera pandemic that claimed tens of thousands more lives.

The 1830s were a time before the Civil War, when slavery was still legal in the United States. Some critics believe that the song lyric fails to capture the true struggles of that era, despite the disclaimer of "without all the racists."

One user expressed surprise at the idea that Taylor Swift would want to live in the 1830s "without the racists," without acknowledging the existence of slavery. They found it concerning that slavery was glossed over in the lyric.

Some people took advantage of the controversy to poke fun at Swift, sharing memes and jokes about her private jet.

Another user joked, "I think Taylor Swift's desire to live in the 1830s is all about avoiding strict environmental rules and saving money on flying her private jet."

In her song, Taylor Swift was asked to name one positive event from the 1830s that wasn't related to racism. She quickly responded with a question.

She also mentions in the song that she wouldn't feel at ease living in any time period. The lyrics continue with her expressing that nostalgia can deceive the mind, and she believes she would have disliked living during that era due to the cold conditions in the palace.

This is just one of hundreds of Swift lyrics that will be parsed over the coming days as fans listen and relisten to Tortured Poets, but so far, it’s the most controversial.

Editor's P/S:

Taylor Swift's lyrics in her song "I Hate It Here" have sparked controversy due to her desire to live in the 1830s