Taylor Swift has released an edited version of her new music video, following backlash online.
The music video for Anti-Hero has been slightly altered following accusations it contained fatphobic content.
Released as the first single from her new album "Midnights", Anti-Hero tells the story of Swift's insecurities and personal struggles.
In the original version of the video, Taylor can be shown stepping onto a bathroom scale, which spins to reveal the word "FAT." She then receives a disapproving look from her doppelganger, another Taylor. In the new version, the scale result isn't shown.
Commenting on the original video online, Eating Disorder Therapist Shira Rosenbluth said "Taylor Swift’s music video, where she looks down at the scale where it says “fat,” is a shitty way to describe her body image struggles. Fat people don’t need to have it reiterated yet again that it’s everyone’s worst nightmare to look like us."
Teen Vogue writer Catherine Mhloyi called the scene "lazy" and said that "in having the word “fat” appear on the scale, she made a choice to explicitly name her demon, the fear of being called fat, which is fatphobia in its most literal sense."
Swift has been vocal before about her experience of an eating disorder and the suffering she has endured from having her body continually scrutinised. Fans have been quick to defend her decision to show her innermost fears and the intrusive thoughts her "anti-hero" pushes on her.
The way ppl are treating her when she literally has expressed her ed and how society views her, and ppl decide to twist it into making her seem like she’s being fatphobic is so disappointing and disgusting.
— JAKE IS AN ANTI HERO ? (@jakeantihero13) October 26, 2022
Others have indicated they felt the original video served to highlight fatphobia, rather than exacerbate it.
See I see it as her highlighting that this is the damage that fatphobia causes. I have fat phobia, and I am fat. Society has fat phobia, this is the point she is highlighting. She isn't perpetuating it, she is highlighting the terrible effects of it.
— Sam (@SamKC1989) October 26, 2022
Taylor's album Midnights, released October 21st, became Spotify's most-streamed album in a single day.
