Despite being one of the biggest recording artists in the world, Taylor Swift has famously refused to speak out against President Donald Trump. And now she's made a powerful enemy in Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor.
In a new cover story for the New York Times, Reznor said it's obvious to him that artists need to speak out about politics.
"I was doing press with somebody in the mid-'90s, and they made an argument that stayed with me: that I have influence, and that it's my job to call out whatever needs to be called out, because there are people who feel the same way but need someone to articulate it," he said. "And I think about that today, because it seemed like it was a lot easier to just keep your mouth shut and let it go back then."
He then took aim at "the Taylor Swifts of the world, and top-tier, needle-moving cultural youth," who don't speak out "because they are concerned about their brand, their demographic and their success and career and whatnot."
"It's not the conservative agenda, it's not a question of religious preference, it's not a question of should government be big or small. I don't have any problem with those topics," he continued. "But the disregard for decency and truth and civility is what's really disheartening. It feels like a country that celebrates stupidity is really taking it up a notch."
Please oh please let this mean that Swift will respond to Reznor with a new thinly veiled diss song.
Nine Inch Nails will release their new EP Bad Witch on Friday (June 22).
In a new cover story for the New York Times, Reznor said it's obvious to him that artists need to speak out about politics.
"I was doing press with somebody in the mid-'90s, and they made an argument that stayed with me: that I have influence, and that it's my job to call out whatever needs to be called out, because there are people who feel the same way but need someone to articulate it," he said. "And I think about that today, because it seemed like it was a lot easier to just keep your mouth shut and let it go back then."
He then took aim at "the Taylor Swifts of the world, and top-tier, needle-moving cultural youth," who don't speak out "because they are concerned about their brand, their demographic and their success and career and whatnot."
"It's not the conservative agenda, it's not a question of religious preference, it's not a question of should government be big or small. I don't have any problem with those topics," he continued. "But the disregard for decency and truth and civility is what's really disheartening. It feels like a country that celebrates stupidity is really taking it up a notch."
Please oh please let this mean that Swift will respond to Reznor with a new thinly veiled diss song.
Nine Inch Nails will release their new EP Bad Witch on Friday (June 22).
