Emily Duprie
Taylor Swift’s release of her newest album “Midnights” on October 21st brought forth 20 new songs for “Swifties” everywhere to analyze and worship. The first to have its music video release was track number 3, “Anti-Hero.” The video was posted to YouTube and Apple Music and received over 30 million views after only 5 days. Both written and directed by Taylor Swift herself, “Anti-Hero” portrayed all the ways the singer/songwriter has insecurities by introducing a judgmental “alter ego” version of herself who for the most part, is a bad influence in the video.
Swift’s fears, among others, included; alcoholism, anxiety, social awkwardness, abandonment, self-sabotage, and body dysmorphia. How that last one was portrayed really struck a nerve for both fans and non-fans alike. Swift has mentioned that she battled an eating disorder multiple times in the past, and has received tons of support since her recovery.
One particular scene were Taylor shamefully stands on a scale that reads “FAT” has been heavily frowned upon.
However, in her music video for “Anti-Hero,” she didn’t specifically mention an eating disorder, rather, she stood upon a scale that read “Fat” in return. Looking over at her “alter-ego” who disappointingly shakes her head at her, “actual” Taylor’s shoulders sink and she becomes visibly sad.
Personally. I don’t think it’s fair to call Taylor “fat-phobic” for creating and posting this scene, as she was genuinely just trying to show how badly body dysmorphia affected her in the past and potentially to this day. Could she have used a different word to describe herself on this magical scale that can apparently create anything other than numbers? Absolutely! But, when you’re creating a video about yourself and your personal issues, you don’t really owe it to anyone to sugar-coat things.
Not long after the video was posted, the Twitter threads started. Some fans argued that Taylor was simply trying to accurately portray her struggles with the eating disorder she went through.
On the contrary and a valid point, the implication that being considered “fat” is a fear of one of the most popular female pop-star’s in the world is upsetting for some of her fans who are unlearning anti-fat messages to embrace their bodies as they are.
Apparently, Taylor and her team heard her fans anguished cries and decided to remove the 2 second clip of her feet on the scale that reads “Fat.” The scene was removed from the Apple Music version, as well as edited out of her YouTube video.
Despite the controversy, we’re happy to see Taylor being vulnerable about personal issues that so many people go through in silence. And we’re thrilled to see her looking happy and healthy again after years of her struggle! So, after all that, what were your thoughts on the “Anti-Hero” video?
