11 Times Taylor Swift Has Spoken Up In the Fiercest of Ways

Taylor Swift is as fierce as they come. And while others may not think so, she’s actually amazing when it comes to speaking up and speaking her mind. Swift isn’t a stranger when it comes to letting her voice be heard from writing Apple a letter to standing up to a predator in court. She knows how to stand her ground and we could all learn a lesson or two from that.

We can’t even count on our two hands how many times the pop star has stood her ground on something important but for the sake of time and space, we’ll be talking about the top 11 times she’s spoken up in the fiercest of ways. So, come along for the ride, you might learn a thing or two.

11. When She Changed Apple’s Mind With a Simple Letter

“We don’t ask you for free iPhones. Please don’t ask us to provide you with our music for no compensation,” Swift wrote in a letter to Apple via Tumblr due to Apple’s free trial period causes artists to lose three months of compensation. After written the letter, it went viral and instantly changed Apple’s tone.

With careful consideration, Eddie Cue, Senior Vice President of Internet Software and Services and CEO Tim Cook called Swift and told her that they would pay artists after all. What a powerful voice that changed something for the better.

10. When She Spoke Out Against Spotify

Remember when Swift pulled her catalog from Spotify. She did it with good reason. “I think there should be an inherent value placed on art,” she said. “I didn’t see that happening, perception-wise when I put my music on Spotify.” The singer did put her music back on Spotify recently. Perhaps Spotify finally listened.

9. When She Spoke Out Against Bullying 

Swift has never been one to shy away from speaking out against bullying. Remember the hit song “Mean”? It’s something she’s passionate about. In fact, she speaks out about it at every one of her shows and even on Tumblr. Swift once wrote a message to a fan named Callilou who spoke up about her being bullied in school. This is Swift’s response: “You will always be criticized and teased and bullied for things that make you different, but usually those things will be what set you apart. The things that set you apart from the pack, the things that you once thought were your weaknesses would someday become your strengths. So if they say you’re weird or annoying or strange or too this or not enough that, maybe it’s because you threaten them. Maybe you threaten them because you’re not the norm. And if you’re not the norm, give yourself a standing ovation.” 

8. When She Speaks Up In Her Songs 

If you’re a Swiftie you know that she never shies away from speaking up in her music. She’s inspired us all to speak up with her album speak now and to be fearless even when we’re afraid and not be afraid to be courageous. She shares important messages, especially in each love letter she writes to her fans in her album booklets. This is why her fans love her and will continue to love her.

“Words can break someone into a million pieces, but they can also put them back together. I hope you use yours for good because the only words you’ll regret more than the ones left unsaid are the ones you use to intentionally hurt someone. What you say might be too much for some people. Maybe it will come out all wrong and you’ll stutter and you’ll walk away embarrassed, wincing as you play it all back in your head. But I think the words you stop yourself from saying are the ones that will haunt you the longest. So say it to them. Or say it to yourself in the mirror. Say it in a letter you’ll never send or in a book millions might read someday. I think you deserve to look back on your life without a chorus of resounding voices saying ‘I could’ve, but it’s too late now.’ There is a time for silence. There is a time waiting your turn. But if you know how you feel, and you so clearly know what you need to say, you’ll know it. I don’t think you should wait. I think you should speak now”

7. When She Stood Up To Kanye 

Kanye West has been nothing short of horribly mean to Swift. It all started with the VMA’s where he wouldn’t even let her give an acceptance speech. Her response? A song called “Innocence,” which was a graceful response, to say the least. After that, we thought they had put aside their differences but Kanye can’t stop talking about her, can he?

After he wrote the song “Famous” and didn’t even give Swift time to listen to the track, Swift, rightfully so, got upset. Long story short, Kim leaked a video and Swift responded in the best way ever:

“Where is the video of Kanye telling me he was going to call me ‘that bitch’ in his song? It doesn’t exist because it never happened,” she wrote. She proudly stood up for herself and we should take notes.

6. When She Turns a Joke Into Dialogue

It’s annoying that someone’s dating life becomes a joke. But for Swift, she didn’t let it get to her. She turned it around and changed it into a conversation by using a Madeleine Albright quote, “There is a special place in hell for women who don’t help other women.” She slays and you know it.

5. When She Stood Up To the Media

The media loves to twist Swift’s words more than any other celebrity. They also love to make her life a headline. What does Swift do? She stands up to them. “As my 25th birthday present from the media, I’d like for you to stop accusing all my friends of dating me. #thirsty ”

4. When She Made a Case for Feminism 

Swift knows a thing or two about women empowerment. She does it every day. So when others would ask her about it during interviews, she always made sure to stand up for women and the true meaning of feminism. “Other women who are killing it should motivate you, thrill you, challenge you and inspire you rather than threaten you and make you feel like you’re immediately being compared to them”.

3. She Won’t Talk Bad About Other Women in Interviews

This is what we love about Swift. She won’t mention other names in interviews and she won’t talk bad about other women who she allegedly has feuded with. It won’t happen, so don’t ever expect it to happen.

2. When She Always Stands Up For Other Women and Supports Them 

We have seen her do this countless times whether it’s supporting them via Instagram or tweet about the women’s march. She never backs down when it comes to supporting strong, powerful women.

1. When She Stood Up To Sexual Assault

Just last week Swift did something honorable and inspiring. She stood up to sexual assault and won a case for a symbolic countersuit of just $1. For her, this wasn’t about the money. It was about speaking for all women and letting them know that it’s okay to speak up and to say “No”.