In defence of Taylor Swift – why Newsweek’s John Mac Ghlionn column was lazy, misogynistic and boring

American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift is no stranger to criticism. Countless opinion pieces on the star have been published over the past decade, with her receiving backlash for her private jet usage, her re-recording of her old work after her master’s dispute with Scooter Braun, and her perceived ‘greed’ with the release of various versions of her latest album, The Tortured Poets Department.

However, a Newsweek column published recently has argued that Taylor Swift is not a role model to young women because, and I quote – “At 34, Swift remains unmarried and childless, a fact that some might argue is irrelevant to her status as a role model. But, I suggest, it’s crucial to consider what kind of example this sets for young girls.”

The author, John Mac Ghlionn, goes on to say despite her musical talent and business acumen being ‘admirable’, “we must ask if her personal life choices are ones we want our sisters and daughters to emulate”. It’s interesting that Mac Ghlionn seems to think that women’s primary purpose and goal in life should be to get married and have children – disregarding Swift’s incredible achievements.

The singer is currently performing on the highest-grossing tour in history, with her spectacular Eras tour having surpassed $1 billion in revenue and bolstering economic growth and tourism worldwide. Indeed, the impact of the tour has arguably garnered levels of attention not seen since Beatlemania in the 1960s, with Swift dominating news cycles and social media worldwide.

Swift has also taken part in charity work on her tour, donating enough money to cover food bills for an entire year across 11 food banks and community pantries in Liverpool. She has done this for every city she has visited on her tour in the UK – meaning she’s done more than the government has done in 14 years to stop food poverty.

She has given out bonuses of more than $55m (around £43m) to her crew on the Eras tour, including giving $100,000 to each of her truck drivers alongside a handwritten note thanking them for their work.

The musician, who began her career aged 14, was named Time Person of the Year in 2023, following the success of her tour and her latest work. She has been named as one of Rolling Stones’s ‘100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time’, and is the first and only artist to win the coveted Grammy for Album of the Year four times.

But according to Mac Ghlionn, none of this makes her someone to look up to for young girls. Looking at his personal background, it seems that a Twitter account allegedly belonging to Mac Ghlionn (which has now been deactivated), posted ‘feminism exists because not all women can be sexually attractive’. No wonder he seems to have such a problem with successful women. He’s also a contributor to the far-right publication The Epoch Times – which I think speaks for itself.

The author goes on to say “Swift’s recent rallying cry against patriarchal structures stands in stark contrast to her personal dating choices”, and asks “Would any loving parent reading this want their daughter to date 12 different men in the span of just a few years?”

I’m not sure where Mac Ghlionn seems to have got this information from – since late 2016, Swift has dated three men – including a six-year relationship with British actor Joe Alwyn. The star is currently dating Kansas City Chiefs player Travis Kelce – who is also 34, unmarried and childless. But that doesn’t seem to be an issue for Mac Ghlionn, does it?

The constant criticism of Swift’s relationships is exhausting. She’s an adult woman who has dated a perfectly normal amount of men in her life – the difference is, she writes about her experiences with a level of vulnerability that exposes her to criticism, despite many of her songs making reference to some of the more toxic, volatile relationships she has had.

Would Mac Ghlionn rather his ‘sisters and daughters’ stay in relationships that aren’t healthy, or should they keep dating to find the right person?

Not that I think Mac Ghlionn cares at all about girls having good role models – instead, his aim with this article is to drag Swift down due to his own insecurities and inferiority complex, and in the process, remind girls and women everywhere that there are still a copious amount of men who see them as nothing more than wives and mothers.

Mac Ghlionn’s column is outdated, misogynistic, and boring, and Newsweek should be ashamed of themselves for allowing it to be published. If you want to criticise Taylor Swift, go ahead – but try to form an actual, legitimate criticism, rather than taking a pathetic jab at her personal life – which is her own business – not yours.