Will Taylor Swift’s Kamala Harris endorsement actually matter?

The highly coveted endorsement comes after a year of speculation. vox.com/culture CULTURE   Taylor Swift’s endorsement of Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris directly after Harris’s commanding debate performance on Tuesday night was certainly a choice. After she was recently spotted embracing fellow WAG Brittany Mahomes, who recently signaled her support for Donald Trump, outcry had grown over Swift’s silence in the presidential election, and fans and critics were left wondering where the pop star’s politics fell. It’s far from the first time Swift has been criticized for not speaking up about political issues — her stardom has come to represent so much to countless women and girls around the world. Maybe her hand was forced. Maybe she was planning to speak up all along. We can’t really know the intentions of someone so ingrained in the celebrity machine, but we can consider what a political statement from one of the world's most famous and wealthiest women might do in such a contentious election — and what it might mean for Swift’s next era in the spotlight. —[Melinda Fakuade](//link.vox.com/click/36715124.23462/aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9hbGFubmE_dWVpZD0zYTUwN2ZmNWZmMzc1YmEzY2FlOTIxZDM1MzEzYjdjZA/6094319a7418d377a33af3d5C151632bb, culture editor Will Taylor Swift’s Kamala Harris endorsement actually matter? [a photo of Taylor Swift on stage in a rhinestone bodysuit, holding a microphone in front of a pink background]( Kate Green/Getty Images Taylor Swift, always noted for her flair for dramatic timing, finally endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris in the presidential race Tuesday night. Moments after the first debate between Harris and former President Donald Trump, Swift posted her endorsement to Instagram, with a picture of herself posing with her now almost-equally famous cat. Meanwhile, [Harris walked off the stage at her post-debate party with Swift’s feminist anthem “The Man” blaring.](The entire endorsement was a carefully choreographed move coming after nearly a year of speculation, disappointment, and paranoia from political onlookers. “I’m voting for @kamalaharris because she fights for the rights and causes I believe need a warrior to champion them,” Swift wrote, urging her followers to do their own research and make their own choices. She signed off with what appeared to be a jab at VP nominee Sen. JD Vance’s infamous “cat lady” sound bite: “Taylor Swift, Childless Cat Lady.” In the post, [Swift unambiguously states that she’s voting for Harris]( and her running mate Gov. Tim Walz because of their support for such feminist issues as “LGBTQ+ rights, IVF, and a woman’s right to her own body.” At the same time, she makes space for potentially millions of fans who might not feel the same way. [Read the full story »]( When did sodas, teas, and tonics become medicine? From prebiotic sodas to collagen waters, beverages are trying to do the most. Consumers are drinking it up. [Read the full story »]( The perfect escape from our online world Why the new luxury is flip phones and vinyl LPs [Read the full story »](   Support our work We aim to explain what we buy, why we buy it, and why it matters. Support our mission by making a gift today. [Give](   More good stuff to read today - [How do kids have fun? Inside the state of child’s play in 2024.]( - [How “Am I the Asshole?” ate the internet]( - [The Carrie Bradshaws of TikTok]( - [Beyoncé’s shocking, predictable CMA snub, explained]( - [Yet another person got bird flu. Now should I freak out?]( - [Raising a shy kid? You can help them open up.](   [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [YouTube]( Manage your [email preferences]( or [unsubscribe](param=culture). If you value Vox’s unique explanatory journalism, support our work with a one-time or recurring [contribution](. View our [Privacy Policy]( and our [Terms of Service](. Vox Media, 1201 Connecticut Ave. NW, Floor 12, Washington, DC 20036. Copyright © 2024. All rights reserved.