I never thought I’d defend a pop star. But when I saw what my daughter was learning from the hate, I couldn’t stay silent.
I’m just a regular dad who loves football and never paid much attention to celebrities. But something changed this season.
I watched grown adults mock Taylor Swift for smiling at a football game. For cheering too loud. For being too visible while supporting someone she cares about.
And then I looked at my 12-year-old daughter’s face.
She noticed. She always notices.
She sees which women the internet decides are “too much.” Too loud. Too successful. Too happy.
And I realized: we’re teaching our kids something dangerous.
Because here’s what they don’t show in the memes:
Taylor Swift has won 14 Grammy Awards and hundreds of other honors. Her Eras Tour generated billions in economic activity and created jobs across America. She’s made substantial charitable donations, including to food banks and disaster relief. Her songwriting is analyzed in college courses at major universities.
When a radio DJ assaulted her and then sued her for speaking out, she counter-sued for one dollar—just to make a point. And she won.
That’s not just celebrity. That’s character.
I’m not defending her music or her fame.
I’m defending the lesson our children learn when we tear down successful women for being joyful.
Our daughters are watching who we ridicule.
Our sons are learning which women deserve respect—and which don’t.
We can do better. Because the next generation is learning from what we share, what we laugh at, and what we stay silent about.
And that matters more than any touchdown.
