Swifties vs. Tyler the Creator: Understanding the Feud with Taylor Swift’s Fandom Amidst Rapper’s Comments on Cancel Culture

During a performance in Boston on Thursday night, rapper Tyler, the Creator took aim at Taylor Swift’s fandom, known as Swifties, who attempted to “cancel”him over his past lyrics. Following complaints from some fans regarding the offensive nature of his earlier work, Tyler responded passionately, labeling some of them as “racists.”

As reported by Forbes, the origins of this controversy remain somewhat unclear, although it gained traction after Tyler briefly surpassed Taylor Swift as the top artist on global Spotify. At his Boston concert, Tyler made his feelings clear, stating:

“I got Swifties all mad at me with their racist a*s—bringing up old lyrics, b*tch, go listen to ‘Tron Cat,’ I don’t give a f*ck, b**ch.”

He continued with a follow-up remark:

“They gonna bring out the old me.”

Numerous Swifties had highlighted specific tracks, notably “Nightmare”and “Tron Cat,”which they criticized online. While some of Tyler’s lyrics indeed sparked controversy in the past, critics like The New Yorker have suggested that the rapper has significantly evolved since those days, particularly after the release of his 2018 album, Flower Boy.

At a recent listening event in Los Angeles on Sunday, October 27, Tyler indicated that he has matured from his earlier self at age 20. He shared:

“I’m not the guy that I was at 20. Folks having kids and families and all I got is a new Ferrari. And it does feel kind of weird. I’m gaining weight, I’ve got gray hair on my chest, life is life-ing.”

Taunting Remarks and Historical Impacts of His Lyrics

At his Boston concert, Tyler reiterated his stance towards the Swifties, whom he accused of racism. Many mentioned several of his past tracks that they found problematic. One notable mention was “Tron Cat,”which features controversial lyrics such as:

“R*pe a pregnant b*tch and tell my friends I had a threesome…”

Another track, “Nightmare,”discusses therapy and intrusive thoughts, with lines like:

“It’s like I got a f*cking voice in my head/Tellin’ me to do all this fucked up sh*t, man.”

This week, Tyler enjoyed a brief reign as the top global artist on Spotify following the release of his latest album, Chromakopia. However, by Thursday, Taylor Swift reclaimed her spot at the top, marking a return to her former position.

Tyler’s lyrics have been a lightning rod for scrutiny over the years. In 2022, Variety noted that his tracks often contained “violent, sexist, misogynistic and homophobic lyrics.”Moreover, in 2015, he faced a ban in the UK largely due to lyrics from 2009 that had triggered backlash. This recent resurfacing of older lyrics seems to have reignited controversy, predominantly fueled by his interactions with Taylor Swift’s fans.

For more insights into this unfolding situation, you can read the full story here.