NASHVILLE, Tenn. 鈥� Music superstar Taylor Swift announced Sunday she鈥檚 voting for Tennessee鈥檚 Democratic Senate candidate Phil Bredesen, breaking her long-standing refusal to discuss anything politics.
鈥淚n the past I鈥檝e been reluctant to publicly voice my political opinions, but due to several events in my life and in the world in the past two years, I feel very differently about that now,鈥� Swift wrote in an .
Swift has faced criticism for not speaking about political issues despite having a global platform. Yet in 2017, she appeared on the cover of Time magazine as one of the 鈥渟ilence breakers鈥� for her countersuit against a radio DJ who was fired after allegedly groping her before a concert. Swift won the lawsuit in a verdict that awarded her $1, which according to the suit served as 鈥渁n example to other women who may resist publicly reliving similar outrageous and humiliating acts.鈥�
The pop star 鈥� a Tennessee native 鈥� also slammed Republican candidate and U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn in her lengthy post on Sunday, citing Blackburn鈥檚 opposition to certain LGBTQ rights and voting against the Reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act in 2013.
鈥淎s much as I have in the past and would like to continue voting for women in office, I cannot support Marsha Blackburn. Her voting record in Congress appalls and terrifies me,鈥� Swift wrote.
Blackburn鈥檚 campaign did not immediately return a request for comment.
Swift says she鈥檚 not only voting for the former Tennessee governor for Senate, but also Democrat Jim Cooper for the House.
However, Swift didn鈥檛 acknowledge Bredesen鈥檚 recent endorsement of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, but said people may never find a candidate or party with whom they agree completely on every issue.
鈥淭hank you for the kind words ... I鈥檓 honored to have your support and that of so many Tennesseans who are ready to put aside the partisan shouting and get things done. We鈥檙e ready for it,鈥� Bredesen tweeted in response to Swift on Sunday.
