Taylor Swift's fans hit back at Billboard over Kanye West clip

Taylor Swift fans have expressed outrage at Billboard after the outlet included a controversial clip in a video celebrating Swift as the second greatest pop star of the 21st century.

The video featured a naked wax figure of Swift from Kanye West’s 2016 music video Famous, which had previously drawn criticism for its misogynistic lyrics and imagery.

According to Daily Mail, in Famous, West depicted wax figures of Swift and other high-profile individuals, including Donald Trump and Rihanna, in a bed, accompanied by lyrics claiming he “made that b**** famous.”

Moreover, the clip reignited memories of Swift’s long-standing feud with West, which began at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards and escalated after the release of Famous.

Additionally, fans quickly condemned Billboard on social media, calling the inclusion “disrespectful” and “unprofessional.”

As per the publication, many questioned the relevance of the clip to a celebration of Swift’s achievements, with some accusing the publication of exploiting past trauma for attention, as per the publication. 

In regards to this, many furious fans wrote, “Why was THAT scene necessary? Just nasty and disrespectful,” while another penned, “Taylor and her team should take action, this was so unprofessional.” A third user wrote, “This wasn’t an accident. It was malicious.”

Furthermore, the Love Story hitmaker has previously addressed the challenges of public scrutiny and her feud with West, as per the outlet.

While speaking to Vogue in 2019, she described the experience as isolating by saying that she channeled her emotions into her music.