Taylor Swift has found herself the target of an unusual accusation from a Republican politician. Kandiss Taylor, a former candidate for Georgia governor, slammed Swift in an Instagram post for supposedly promoting witchcraft.
Taylor took issue with a recent post from Swift where the singer thanked her fans for their support of her Eras tour film. In the post, Swift said her fans had been “creating inside jokes, casting spells, getting engaged, and just generally creating the exact type of joyful chaos we’re known for.”
Kandiss Taylor seized on the phrase “casting spells” and accused Swift of celebrating witchcraft and leading her young fans astray. Taylor, who describes herself as a Christian conservative, told Swift that God was responsible for her career success and could take it away if she continued promoting witchcraft.
“You have been gifted a HUGE platform,” Taylor wrote. “It didn’t just happen. God breathed on this. He can remove His hand and leave you to the witchcraft and your own devices. Let’s see how much Lucifer cares about you or your career. I promise. He doesn’t.”
Taylor also claimed she had heard from others who attended Swift’s tour that there were “satanic nods” in the show. She expressed disappointment that Swift had strayed from her Christian roots and was now using her platform to promote the “dark side of spirituality.”
Swift has not directly responded to the accusations. But the comments sparked a debate on social media between Swift’s defenders and those who agreed with Taylor’s stance.
Many Swift fans and liberal commenters ridiculed Taylor’s post as absurd and outdated. They pointed out the common hyperbolic use of phrases like “casting spells” in pop culture fandoms. Several users told Taylor her religious views were irrelevant and she should keep them to herself rather than judging Swift.
However, some conservative users echoed Taylor’s warning about Swift leading young people toward witchcraft or Satanism. A few agreed Swift seemed to have “changed” and was revealing her true spiritual beliefs.
The accusations of promoting witchcraft are just the latest in a string of attacks on Swift from right-wing figures. After she encouraged her fans to register to vote in September, leading to a surge of registrations, many Republicans lashed out at her online for getting involved in politics.
Earlier this month, a Christian commentator said Swift and her rumored boyfriend Travis Kelce should be “publicly prosecuted and hung” for appearing in an ad promoting COVID-19 vaccines.
Swift has faced backlash in the past for speaking out on political and social issues, particularly LGBTQ rights. Her liberal stances and encouragement of civic participation among her fans have made her a target for many conservatives.
But the specific accusation of promoting witchcraft and Satanism is a new one for Swift. While the singer is known for cryptic lyrics and videos that often have occult-like imagery, she has not explicitly referenced witchcraft as an inspiration.
The attack from Kandiss Taylor appears to be an exaggerated extrapolation meant to portray Swift as a danger to Christian youth. But it gained little traction beyond Taylor’s circle of ultra-conservative backers.
Most fans and commentators found the accusations baseless and unreasonable. Swift’s music and videos may indulge in mystical aesthetics at times, but there is no evidence she is advocating dark magic or worshipping any entities other than her devoted followers.
Taylor’s comments can likely be chalked up to overzealous moralizing rooted in an antiquated view of pop culture’s influence. The days when rock and roll bands were seriously accused of hidden Satanic messages are mostly behind us.
But the incident does highlight Swift’s cultural relevance and ability to irritate her conservative detractors. Even the mildest creative expression from Swift has the potential to provoke hysterical claims from those who view her as a threat.
For a pop star who prides herself on connecting with fans, ruffling some feathers comes with the territory. As long as her spellbinding songs and performances continue captivating audiences, outlandish accusations are unlikely to break Swift’s stride.
