11 stars who have defended Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift does plenty to guard her Reputation. From asking to be excluded from a narrative to her own lyrical defenses in songs like “Look What You Made Me Do,” from her fearless testimony in a sexual assault trial to penning an essay explaining her views on music streaming, Swift is not one to pull punches.

But with a list of names feuds and controversies this long (see: Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, Katy Perry, her political silence, the Beyhive), it can’t hurt that a gaggle of stars has come to her defense over the years. Here are 11 of Swift’s biggest defenders.

1. Ruby Rose

Hours after Kanye West released his 2016 song “Famous” — and reigniting the Swift-West feud in the process — Ruby Rose raced to Swift’s defense. The Orange Is the New Black actress responded to West’s lyrics — “I feel like me and Taylor might still have sex / Why, I made that bitch famous / God damn / I made that bitch famous” — by tweeting, “Too many lines crossed. If I put myself in the shoes of the women he has hurt recently. Victims of Bill Cosby, The Slut shaming, Amber [Rose]…And now my dear friend Taylor.. Right before another huge moment for her.. Can I still support him and call myself a feminist? A friend? No.” Detractors jumped on Rose, accusing her of commenting on something that didn’t involve her. She responded swiftly on behalf of her friend, writing, “I was talking to Taylor last night. I wouldn’t comment on something before doing due diligence.”

2. Selena Gomez

When the Kimye feud exploded in summer 2016, Selena Gomez was quick to support one of her besties. A refresher: Kim Kardashian released a tape recording of a phone call West had with Swift about “Famous,” resulting in a debate over which lyrics Swift did or did not approve. Swift claimed she was never asked about West calling her “that bitch,” and the internet could not stop talking about it. All the chatter prompted Gomez to tweet, “There are more important things to talk about… Why can’t people use their voice for something that f—ing matters? Truth is, last thing we need right now is hate, in any form. This industry is so disappointing yet the most influential smh.”

3. Joseph Kahn

Joseph Kahn, one of Swift’s frequent collaborators, has directed numerous music videos for her, including “Look What You Made Me Do,” “Blank Space,” “Bad Blood,” “Wildest Dreams,” and “Out of the Woods.” In 2016, amid the Kimye feud, Kahn publicly supported Swift, describing her as a “rainbow in a swamp” and making a controversial reference to O.J. Simpson, implying that the Kardashians had a history of supporting the murder of innocent blonde women.

Following the release of the divisive “Look What You Made Me Do” video in 2017, Kahn defended Swift against accusations of manipulation, highlighting the double standards faced by women in the industry. He argued that Swift regularly confronts misogyny, sharing a Guardian article that supported this claim.

Moreover, when the Beyhive accused Swift’s “LWYMMD” video of copying Beyoncé’s “Formation,” Kahn staunchly defended Swift, even suggesting that Beyoncé had copied elements from Swift’s “Bad Blood” video.

4. Martha Hunt

Swift’s squad members, including Martha Hunt, have consistently supported her, especially during challenging times like the Kimye scandal. Last summer, the Victoria’s Secret model took to Twitter to criticize the sensationalization of fabricated stories and urged people to focus on real issues instead, emphasizing the importance of spreading love.

Hunt frequently shares posts about Swift on social media, demonstrating her ongoing support. Recently, she shared an image of Swift’s first single from the Reputation album and commented on her own workout routine, indicating her dedication to her friend.

5. Zayn Malik

Zayn Malik once appeared to be a critic of Swift (see Calvin Harris’ section below), but the stars no longer have bad blood after teaming up on their Fifty Shades Darker duet, “I Don’t Want to Live Forever.” In a recent interview, the former One Directioner came to Swift’s defense when he was asked about the drama surrounding the release of “Look What You Made Me Do.” “I rate her as an artist, I think she’s cool, I think she’s successful, and I think she deserves her success because she’s worked hard,” he told The Fader. “That’s just how I look at it. I did a song with her, it was fun, she was professional. She gets on with my girlfriend [Gigi Hadid], they’re good friends. I don’t have a bad word to say about her. She’s cool.”

6. Todrick Hall

Swift’s friend Todrick Hall found himself in the position of defending both Swift and his own decisions after appearing as a dancer in her “Look What You Made Me Do” video. In a detailed interview with Yahoo!, Hall addressed criticisms about Swift’s political silence during the 2016 presidential election, dismissing assumptions that she was pro-Trump as unfounded. He explained that he has had discussions about sexuality and racism with Swift and suggested that perhaps one day she would become more politically vocal. However, he acknowledged the challenges Swift would face regardless of her level of engagement, stating that criticism would likely persist regardless of her actions. Despite this, Hall emphasized that Swift had always treated him kindly, and he expressed his willingness to support her by participating in her projects when asked.

7. Lena Dunham

Swift’s friendship extends not only to Lena Dunham but also to Dunham’s boyfriend, Jack Antonoff, a collaborator who initially worked with Swift on her 1989 album and later co-wrote and produced “Look What You Made Me Do.” Dunham, who has faced her share of online criticism, has been a vocal supporter of Swift. When questioned by Rolling Stone about Swift’s decision to remain politically neutral during the 2016 election, Dunham emphasized the importance of individuals following their own path. She also commended Swift’s resilience in navigating the ups and downs of her career, expressing admiration for Swift’s ability to continue creating amidst public scrutiny. Dunham further demonstrated her support for Swift by tweeting a strong response to Swift’s testimony in her sexual assault trial, praising her for her courage and refusal to accept mistreatment.

8. Ed Sheeran

Swift played a pivotal role in introducing her friend Ed Sheeran to American audiences, collaborating with him on the song “Everything Has Changed” for her 2012 album Red and inviting him to join The Red Tour in 2013. Despite never being romantically involved, Swift has described Sheeran as the James Taylor to her Carole King, a sentiment echoed by Sheeran himself. In an interview with Rolling Stone, Sheeran emphasized Swift’s unwavering support, expressing confidence that she would be there for him regardless of the circumstances. He also defended Swift against media scrutiny, acknowledging her omnipresence due to her global fame and consistently advocating for her in public. Following an online dispute between Swift and Nicki Minaj over the MTV Video Music Awards in 2015, Sheeran spoke out in support of Swift, arguing that she deserved recognition for her work. However, Sheeran later indicated that he believes Swift can handle certain situations without his defense, particularly in response to rumored feud tracks like Katy Perry’s “Swish Swish.” He emphasized that he doesn’t view feud songs as significant and reiterated his respect and admiration for Swift’s ability to navigate the music industry.

9. Calvin Harris

The former couple had their share of breakup drama, but Harris was a supportive boyfriend while they were still an item. The DJ leaped to defend his girlfriend when in 2015 Malik retweeted a post attempting to compare Swift and Miley Cyrus’ views on compensation in the music industry, seemingly criticizing Swift’s decision to pull her music from Spotify. The post included a quote from Cyrus, who has said that she “made my money” and didn’t care if people didn’t buy her music. Harris jumped on Malik, whom he tagged in the post. “You’ve made your money? Cool…f–k the 99% of musicians who depend on these services to survive right? Yeah f— em,” wrote Harris. In additional posts, Harris wrote, “If u don’t get what it means when a successful artist uses their celebrity to benefit every other musician and songwriter in the industry……stay out my f—in mentions pls. While u kids are refresh voting teen choice awards there’s some poor f—er in a basement making your new favorite record trying to survive. Meaning…stay out of things you don’t understand.”

10. Kris Jenner

Despite the tensions arising from the Kimye controversy, the Kardashian matriarch surprisingly stood up for Swift during the scrutiny surrounding Swift’s relationship with Tom Hiddleston in 2016. Speaking on The Kyle and Jackie O Show, an Australian radio program, Jenner defended Swift’s privacy and authenticity in her relationships. She acknowledged the challenges of dating in the public eye and emphasized that only Swift and her partner truly understand the dynamics of their relationship. Despite any speculation, Jenner expressed empathy for Swift’s situation, recognizing the difficulties of maintaining a personal life amidst public scrutiny.

11. Katy Perry

After their prolonged feud, which garnered significant media attention, Perry seemed prepared to mend fences during an interview on Ariana Huffington’s Thrive Global Podcast. Expressing her forgiveness, Perry apologized for any past actions and extended hopes for reconciliation from Swift. She offered praise for Swift’s talents as a songwriter and commended her contributions to the entertainment industry. Perry emphasized her love for Swift and her desire for both of them to serve as examples of strong women who can unite despite their differences. While acknowledging disagreements, Perry expressed a genuine wish to foster a relationship built on love, forgiveness, understanding, and compassion.