Swifties, We Need to Talk: Taylor Swift Doesn’t Owe Us Anything!

Josh’s Note: The pollen count in Florida was off the charts when I wrote this and, as a result, I was popping my allergy medicine like it was candy so… this is probably the most unhinged and chaotic thing I’ve written in a while and I regret nothing.

Hey there, fellow Swifties! Grab your snake rings and shake off that folklore cardigan because we need to have a heart-to-heart about our queen, Taylor Swift, and the recent hullabaloo over her Eras Tour Concert Film rental fee. Spoiler alert: she doesn’t owe us a thing, and here’s why.

So, picture this: Taylor Swift, our musical sorceress, drops the bombshell that she’s releasing the Eras Tour Concert Film in theaters. Then it leaves the theaters, BUT WAIT! Now it’s coming to our living rooms! Naturally, the Swiftie universe collectively loses its mind. But then, like a dark cloud looming over our glittering wonderland, the complaints roll in. “$19.89 to rent? And only 48 hours to watch? What kind of sorcery is this?” they cry.

Let me break it down for you, my friends. First off, that $19.89 (ha, see what she did there with the clever reference until tax gets added) is a small price to pay for a front-row seat to the magic that is Taylor Swift’s tour. Yes, it’s a rental fee, and yes, it’s only valid for 48 hours, but let’s not act like she’s charging us to enter a secret Swiftie society. It’s a business move, and spoiler alert number two: Taylor Swift is a business.

Now, I get it. Money is tight for many of us. The struggle is real, and we’re all out here adulting like pros. But folks, let’s not forget that Taylor Swift isn’t just the gal who writes anthems about our exes. She’s a mogul, a queen, a musical genius who reached billionaire status this year. Do we envy her? Maybe a smidge. But that doesn’t mean she owes us a free pass to the Eras Tour Concert Film.

And let’s not forget the collective amnesia about Taylor’s generosity. Remember when she was sliding money into Swifties’ pockets during the pandemic? She didn’t have to do that, but she did because she’s not just a pop star; she’s a human with a heart of gold. So cut her some slack, and remember the good vibes she’s sent our way.

Now, as someone who may or may not have winced a little at the $20 price tag, I still happily paid my Taylor Swift Toll. Why? Because, my friends, it’s not a necessity. I’m not out here sacrificing my avocado toast budget to watch Taylor perform on the big screen. I made a conscious choice, cracked open a bottle of wine, and let the Swiftie magic take over. 

FOR THE RECORD: Kam Saunders and Sam McWilliams are both national treasures that should be protected at all costs.

Sure, I missed out on the live tour because I was adulting hard and bought a house instead. And I had to watch a few times now as merch I would have loved to get my hands on slipped through my fingers. Priorities, people! But Taylor Swift doesn’t owe me an unlimited pass to watch the concert on repeat. She’s out there, still touring, still killing it, and still making those coins.

So, let’s raise a glass to our girl, Taylor. Let her secure that bag, slay the charts, and continue being the legend she is. She owes us nothing, and we owe it to ourselves to remember that we’re spending our money because we want to, not because we have to. Now go out there and get that bread, Taylor!