Taylor Swift Receives Apology From Billboard Over Nude Waxwork Incident

On November 28, Billboard publicly apologized to Taylor Swift after mistakenly featuring footage of her nude wax figure from Kanye West’s music video in a tribute to her accomplishments. The video was meant to celebrate Swift being named the second greatest pop star of the 21st century.

Billboard expressed their regret via Instagram, stating, "We are deeply sorry to Taylor Swift and all of our readers and viewers that in a video celebrating Swift’s achievements, we included a clip that falsely depicted her. We have removed the clip from our video and sincerely regret the harm we caused with this error." The footage was taken from West’s 2016 song "Famous," which many fans labeled as "revenge porn" due to the ongoing feud between Swift and West.

When "Famous" was released, Swift publicly denied being aware of its content, particularly after an edited recording of a phone call between her and West was leaked by his then-wife, Kim Kardashian. In her response, Swift mentioned feeling like she was being falsely portrayed as a liar and expressed a desire to be excluded from the narrative surrounding the conflict between her and West, which began in 2009.

Though Swift has not made a public statement about the recent incident, she previously showed her disapproval by liking posts on social media that criticized the use of her wax figure in the video. Swift's close friend, Lena Dunham, also condemned the video, calling it "sickening" and accusing West of objectifying women.

Recognition and Achievements

In their acknowledgment of her milestone, Billboard highlighted various qualities that have made Swift unique. They praised her songwriting skills, relatable personality, and ability to reshape societal norms regarding female artists, allowing her to rise to fame against all odds. They noted her remarkable achievements, including being the first person to win Album of the Year at the Grammys four times.

Swift is credited with having the second-most entries on the Billboard Hot 100, trailing only Drake. Furthermore, she shares the record for second-most No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200 alongside Jay-Z, just behind The Beatles. In 2023, her global Eras Tour became the highest-grossing tour ever, setting attendance records and benefiting local economies significantly. Swift is now recognized as one of the most successful touring artists of the last 25 years and has become a billionaire primarily through her music career.

Billboard Rankings

In anticipation of some backlash from fans regarding Swift not taking the No. 1 spot, Billboard emphasized the achievements that led to her being recognized as the No. 2 greatest pop star of the 21st century. They acknowledged that her presence on the list will likely provoke debate and discussion online. However, they also pointed out that her late entry into the music industry, particularly into pop, accounted for her position on the list.

Billboard’s ranking serves as a testament to Swift’s influence in the music industry, which continues to permeate discussions among fans and critics alike.

Taylor, Billboard, Apology, Music