TAS Rights ManagementTaylor Swift‘s album Reputation seems inspired by the hits her image has taken over the past few years, from feuds with other celebs to online battles with her ex. But she never confirmed that until Tuesday night at her tour kickoff in Glendale, AZ.
Regarding the tour’s snake motif, which includes a snake microphone, snake merch, a snake-shaped platform and images of snakes on video screens, Taylor offered an explanation halfway through the show, reports The Washington Post.
“A couple of years ago, someone called me a snake on social media and it caught on. Then a lot of people were calling me a lot of things on social media,” Taylor said. “And I went through some really low times for a while because of it. I went through some times when I didn’t know if I was going to get to do this anymore.”
Then Taylor turned her pain into a teachable moment.
“I wanted to send a message to you guys that if someone uses name-calling to bully you on social media…that doesn’t have to defeat you. It can strengthen you instead,” she said.
“I learned a really important lesson that I’ve been telling you from the stage for about 10 years, but I never had to learn it so harshly myself,” Taylor declared. “That you shouldn’t care so much if you feel misunderstood by a lot of people who don’t know you, as long as you feel understood by the people who do know you…the people who will show up for you, the people who see you as a human being.”
As for the concert, it boasted a surprise appearance from Tiffany Haddish, who delivered, via pre-recorded video, the “Taylor can’t come to the phone” line in “Look What You Made Me Do.”
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