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By Melissa Fleur Afshar
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Social media users have been criticizing Taylor Swift for remaining silent about ICE as she promotes her new “Opalite” music video and additional vinyl variants tied to her latest album, The Life of a Showgirl.
Swift’s marketing moves around new music often spark intense online reaction due to her enormous fanbase, affectionately dubbed "Swifties," but the latest push for “Opalite” and fresh vinyl variants coincided with criticism that high-profile entertainers should use their platforms to address government policies and domestic topics such as ICE.
One viral Threads post from @the_bibliophile_archives said: “Taylor releasing a new vinyl variant instead of speaking up about ICE is right on brand. Really gives ‘Cold as You’ a new meaning."
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Their message, from February 5, has been liked more than 1,700 times.
Other Threads users urged Swift to speak out, with posts referencing her “Opalite” music video and ongoing album merchandise drops.
Swift has been promoting work from The Life of a Showgirl, which drew extensive attention in 2025 for record-breaking streaming and sales, according to prior reporting.
The “Opalite” music video will be available from 8 a.m. ET on February 6. Newsweek reached out to Taylor Swift’s representative for comment on Friday.
What People Are Saying
Another Threads user, @andrea.jaylee, weighed in on the perceived silence: "Taylor Swift, Unless your 'Opalite' music video is you holding up signs saying ‘**** ICE'…. IDGAF Sincerely, a Swiftie since I was 9.”
“The PR narrative that Taylor Swift isn’t speaking up on ICE because she just cares so much about keeping her fans safe p***** me off so much...It’s an incredibly nasty narrative that does not hold up to basic scrutiny," another Threads user, @perksofbeinghc, said. "Her fans who are POC, immigrants, or just generally willing to step up to protect their neighbors AREN’T safe right now...It implies that equally famous celebs like Ariana Grande who choose to speak up DON’T care about keeping their fans safe."
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“I’m a big Taylor Swift fan...But every time she releases another... Life of a Showgirl variant I kiiiinda side with the haters for a bit. Having 35+...versions of one album is insane. It’s a money grab at a time money could go toward literally anything else.," another creator, @thelweiss, shared.
“Taylor Swift dropping a new vinyl and Harris dropping a new website is the same...Energy. Neither is relevant to these times," another, @fnalexisluther, commented.
What Happens Next
Swift’s team could address the criticism or continue promotional plans for “Opalite” and related album merchandise, and any response may influence the online debate among both fans and critics.
Swift, 36, rose to fame as a teenage country artist before becoming one of the most successful pop musicians of her generation. Known for her confessional songwriting, Swift often draws on personal experiences to craft songs about love, heartbreak, fame and self‑reinvention.
Over her career, she has repeatedly reinvented her sound, moving from country to pop, indie and folk‑influenced music, while maintaining strong control over her business decisions.
Her creative adaptability and vulnerable lyrics prompted some fans to think she might voice an opinion on ICE, as several other celebrities including Bad Bunny and Billie Eilish already had.
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