In 2022, when America’s sweetheart Taylor Swift was called out for being the top celebrity polluter, all the fuss died down just within weeks. But now, she is suing a college boy for tracking her flight and all the attention is back on her polluting ways. Swifties who were ready to brush her carbon emissions under the carpet are now divided.
The cease-and-desist letter was made public by Jack Sweeney, a 21-year-old student at the University of Central Florida.
Sweeney has, for years, been tracking private jet flight data of hundreds of billionaires, politicians, Russian oligarchs, and public figures—most notably Tesla CEO Elon Musk—in a bid to draw attention to pollution caused by their use.
The letter sent by Swift’s attorney says that there is “no legitimate interest in or public need for this information, other than to stalk, harass, and exert dominion and control.”
And sure, while American media does like to see where Swift is and whether she will be attending her boyfriend Travis Kelce’s football games, her attorney completely disregards Sweeny’s clearly stated objective—to bring our attention to her carbon footprint and the amount of pollution her two (now one) private jets cause.
Swift’s team claims that it is a security concern and cases of stalking have increased, but what confuses me is how Sweeny’s 24-hour delayed tracking can be so harmful to someone like Swift, who has the means to rope in a high-security team.
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Are you still the victim?
The letter states that Sweeney is in violation of “several state laws” but doesn’t specify which ones. What it does highlight are several anonymous Instagram comments that label Sweeney’s activity as “scary,” “pathetic,” “weird,” “invasive” and “dangerous” “stalker behavior.” A legal document resorting to Instagram comments, probably from Swifties who will defend her for murder, shows this is just another chapter in the American sweetheart’s public image as a perpetual victim.
This is not to say Swift has been wronged in the past. Her songs suggest that. And, so does her public image.
While she has spoken about being judged for her writing and dating choices, bullied, and left heartbroken, she now is at the top handling a busy career and what seems like a fruitful relationship, flying in and out of cities—the girl is literally going places!
Why is she now attempting to censor a college student who is just trying to do the “right thing”.
Sweeney uses “unencrypted signals broadcast directly from the planes” to track the flights and posts them 24 hours later, alongside the carbon emissions data the flight caused. His intention is clear.
Are you still the victim or the problem here, Taylor?
Just like her songs, there is a ‘Taylor’s version’ for everything that happens in the world. Maybe we should listen to her when she says—“It’s me, hi, I’m the problem, it’s me”.
Musk too tried to “crackdown” on Sweeney’s X account. It shows that there is little difference between the megalomaniac male billionaire and this 30-something-year-old billionaire pop star who has climbed the ladder to become one of the most successful artists of our generation—on the backs of ideologies like feminism and equality.
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Never a bad guy
Swift is no stranger to legal battles. In 2015, a couple used her song in their wedding video and uploaded it on YouTube. Down came a copyright claim, and now their first dance plays on mute. Etsy shop owners selling the singer’s merchandise have also been hit with multiple copyright violations and have had their shops shut down. Then there are the larger issues of concert ticket price regulation sparked by her Eras Tour, ownership of masters arising from her feud with Scooter Braun, a spat with Spotify over royalties.
But the common link in every controversy you see Swift in, she is always a victim, always fighting the bad guys.
It makes me wonder if this is really the truth or if it’s just public perception—a thoughtfully carved-out PR image. And her loyal fans play into it, eager to ignore her responsibility as a celebrity to set a good example.
I think Swift needs to grow up. This time you’re not fighting a big bad guy who is defaming you, but a college student who is fighting not just you but many of those big bad guys you were once against. Take responsibility, give a statement, and move on.
Views are personal.
(Edited by Theres Sudeep)
Feel pretty bad for you and honestly that’s just it my friend. Things are hard in the world for average people like you these days so naturally you’ll try to find a distraction or something or someone to vent your pathetic anger on and you know what that’s completely fine too cuz Taylor would never even know your name let alone see whatever this is !? There are millions of people out there just like you who hate her and funny enough, She’ll always be where she is and you’ll always be what you are… A decimal point on this planet. But thanks I guess for wasting your useless minutes to write whatever this is. Keep on distracting yourself and you’ll make it far enough. Have a great day if that’s achievable!??