There comes a point in time where a celebrity stands for something larger than themselves and their luxurious lifestyles.
There is a point where an actress is no longer just the pretty face on a screen, where an athlete is no longer simply points on a scoreboard, or where a singer uses her voice for something besides catchy pop hits.
In the 2020 Netflix Documentary, “Miss Americana,” global pop star Taylor Swift rips apart her long-lasting and infamous “good girl” persona and demands that her intuitive and inspiring mindset be shared with the world.
This hour and 25 minute documentary, directed by the Emmy award winning Lana Wilson, is a vulnerable and heart-wrenching film that highlights the disposition of a young woman who’s been beaten and bruised by the media and public for over a decade.
Anyone who stays updated on pop culture knows the widespread stigma against Ms. Swift. For years, the song-writer has been the “skinny blonde girl who dates too many boys.” This reputation spiraled into “the snake who plays the victim” amid a celebrity scandal in 2016. If you’re unfamiliar with these demeaning designations, simply look up Taylor Swift online. Thousands of articles and web pages label the Grammy award winning 30 year old as a “money hungry bitch” interested in “nothing other than herself.” These accusations have stemmed from decades of deceptive assumptions.
For years, it’s been “cool” to hate her.
Until now.
In the wake of feminism on social media, more than ever, celebrities with vast platforms are stepping forward regarding their liberal beliefs. They’re advocating for women’s rights, the LGBTQ community, the Black Lives Matter movement, and immigration issues; rare is the occasion that a celebrity hasn’t at this point voiced their opinion regarding these relevant, contemporary problems.
In her documentary, Swift displays the transition in the use of her platform; from that polite and pretty singer, to a fearless and empowered woman, using her limelight for betterment.
“Label executives would say, ‘a nice girl doesn’t force their opinions on people, a nice girl smiles and waves and says thank you… I became the person everyone wanted me to be,” Swift said in her Netflix film, regarding her previous silence regarding matters apart from her music.
In one particular piteous scene, Swift is seen sitting before her management team alongside her mother, crying and begging to express her political ideologies to her millions of fans. This scene takes place amid the 2018 midterm elections. In the film, Swift speaks passionately regarding her opinions of Republican Tennessee Senator (then candidate), Marsha Blackburn.
“She votes against fair pay for women, she votes against the reauthorization of the violence against women act, which basically protects us against domestic abuse and stalking… stalking!” She says through tears, motivated by a career of forced silence.
Taylor’s own sexual assault case of 2017 was touched upon in this raw and emotional piece. In 2013, during the singer’s world tour for her album Red, David Mueller, an ex-DJ, groped Taylor during a meet and greet session. The DJ was fired after Taylor and her team reported the incident. Claiming Swift was lying, despite photographic proof and 7 witnesses, Mueller filed a lawsuit against Swift for millions of dollars.
“This exact day a year ago, I was in a courtroom in Denver, Colorado. I was there for a sexual assault case…. the Jury said that they believed me…. I just think about all the people that weren’t believed … or the people who were afraid to speak up because they’re afraid they won’t be believed,” Swift was shown saying during a concert of her Reputation stadium tour.
Taylor Swift is a woman who has been exposed to public humiliation, defamation of character, sexism, abuse; the list goes on and on. Nonetheless, the 30 year old talent displays herself in a field of colors, with a genuine red smile whenever she sees her young fans. She is persistent in the face of the trauma she has encountered. She is determined despite being a human punching bag for the angry media. She no longer finds it acceptable to sit back and “smile,” as executives have advised her to do all her life. She is an intelligent and compassionate young woman with hopes to use her fame for the greater good of those around her. She has bold and brilliant ideas to help those who have suffered, and she wants to use her vast resources to do just that.
“If you have anything you think I can help with, please let me know,” Swift is filmed saying to Jonathan Van Ness, an activist for the LGBTQ community.
Aside from a generous donation of $113,000 to the Tennessee LGBTQ Advocacy group in 2019, Swift wrote a chart topping single, titled “You Need To Calm Down,” addressing homophobia and the strong-willed and care-free nature of the gay communiy. At the end of her music video, featuring various celebrities and figures of the community, Swift provides a link to a petition advocating for the Senate support of the Equality Act, which now has over 500,000 signatures.
Like every human to ever exist, Taylor Swift has made mistakes, and she’s learned from them. She’s used past failures to grow and mature into the confident and inspiring woman she is today. She is a role model to the younger generations, and a prime example of how celebrities can use their acclaimed power and fortune for a larger cause. “Miss Americana” is beautiful and emotionally charged, full of issues audiences of varying backgrounds can relate to. Taylor Swift has been through it all. This documentary proves that Swift is an icon of our generation, and no longer a “popular celebrity to hate.”
Take the hour and 25 minutes to invest into this crucially relevant and important story about the immense difficulties the young star has endeavored, and learn how women like Taylor Swift will change the world.