In a twist worthy of one of her breakup ballads, Taylor Swift is now facing a new kind of heartbreak: empty concert venues. Once known for selling out stadiums in minutes, Swift’s Eras Tour is now eerily quiet after her high-profile endorsement of Kamala Harris left fans divided—and apparently uninterested in attending her shows. The pop icon, who once reigned supreme on stage, now finds herself singing to echoing arenas filled with more crickets than fans.

The once-glittering star, whose name alone was enough to command sold-out shows, is reportedly stunned by the lack of turnout. Where there were once thousands of screaming fans waving light sticks, there are now just rows and rows of empty chairs, with ticket sales plummeting in the wake of her controversial political endorsement. The backlash has hit harder than any bad romance, and Swift is left wondering where it all went wrong.

It all started with one Instagram post. Taylor Swift, who has always been outspoken about her beliefs on social issues, decided to throw her full support behind Vice President Kamala Harris in the upcoming election. “Kamala is the future of America,” Swift declared to her millions of followers. “She’s a true leader who stands for justice and equality. I’m proud to endorse her.”

What followed was a social media meltdown of epic proportions. Swift’s once-unshakable fanbase, known for standing by her through every high and low, suddenly found itself split down the middle. Some cheered Swift for using her platform to speak out, while others were furious, accusing her of alienating a large portion of her audience.

The hashtags #TaylorSwiftIsOverParty and #BoycottTaylor started trending within hours. Fans who had once declared undying loyalty to the singer now felt betrayed. Swift, who had always seemed to balance fame and fan loyalty with grace, suddenly found herself at the center of a political storm she wasn’t prepared for.

Swift’s team may have initially dismissed the social media uproar as temporary noise, but the real consequences became apparent when the singer stepped onto the stage for her next Eras Tour performance. Instead of the roaring crowds she had become accustomed to, Swift was met with a sight no performer ever wants to see—rows upon rows of empty seats.

“It was like she was singing to a giant void,” said one concertgoer who managed to snag a last-minute ticket (not that there was any competition). “I’ve been to her concerts before, and the energy used to be electric. Now it’s just…awkward.”

What was supposed to be a triumphant tour has turned into a series of sparsely attended shows. One particularly brutal review described Swift’s performance as “a beautiful, well-choreographed show…for an audience of ghosts.”

Even the most loyal fans are finding it hard to defend the low turnout. “I love Taylor,” said one disappointed Swiftie. “But the vibe at these concerts isn’t the same anymore. It feels like the magic is gone.”

The real numbers tell the story Swift’s team probably doesn’t want to acknowledge. Ticket sales, once a frenzied affair that saw shows sell out in minutes, have nosedived. Reports suggest that tickets for Swift’s remaining concerts are going for as low as $20 on resale sites, a far cry from the thousands they once commanded.

Even more worrying for Swift and her team is the fact that fans just don’t seem interested anymore. “I’ve got tickets to her next show, but honestly, I’m thinking of skipping it,” said one fan who had previously seen Swift live over a dozen times. “I didn’t sign up for political speeches—I just wanted to hear the hits.”

Attempts to drum up excitement with last-minute promotions and discounts have done little to fill the empty seats. In some cases, entire sections of arenas have been cordoned off, with Swift performing to a fraction of the audience she once commanded.

One particularly telling moment came during a show where Swift paused between songs to thank her fans. “I know things have been a little rocky lately,” she said, her voice echoing awkwardly across the half-empty venue. “But I’m so grateful to those of you who are here.”

The remaining fans cheered, but the absence of thousands more was impossible to ignore.

Critics of Swift’s Kamala Harris endorsement were quick to seize on the drop in attendance as proof that fans don’t want their favorite stars to wade into politics. Social media platforms exploded with posts from fans who felt betrayed by Swift’s decision to mix music and politics.

“I used to love her music because it was an escape,” tweeted one former fan. “But now, it feels like she’s trying to lecture us. I didn’t come to a concert for a political rally.”

Even some in the music industry have weighed in on the controversy, with a few insiders reportedly advising Swift to “stick to what she does best” and leave the politics to the politicians. One unnamed industry executive was quoted as saying, “Taylor Swift is one of the biggest stars on the planet, but she’s learning the hard way that not everyone wants their pop stars to get political.”

For now, it seems the backlash has created a divide within Swift’s fanbase. Some are standing by her, praising her for using her platform to speak out on important issues, while others feel her endorsement was a step too far.

The question on everyone’s mind is whether or not Taylor Swift can recover from the fallout. The singer has faced controversy before—whether it was her public feuds with other celebrities or personal heartbreaks—but this is different. Her decision to endorse Kamala Harris has created a lasting ripple effect that could impact not just her current tour, but her entire career moving forward.

Some fans believe Swift will bounce back, just as she has in the past. “She’s Taylor Swift—of course she’ll come back stronger,” said one hopeful fan. “She’s been through worse, and her true fans will stick by her.”

Others, however, aren’t so sure. “This feels different,” said another fan. “It’s not just about music anymore. She’s divided her fanbase in a way that might be hard to fix.”

For now, Swift seems to be staying the course, continuing with her Eras Tour despite the dwindling crowds. Whether or not she will address the backlash directly remains to be seen, but insiders say she’s well aware of the controversy and its impact on her brand.

“She thought her fans would follow her anywhere,” said one source close to the singer. “But now she’s realizing that politics and pop don’t always mix. She’s hoping this blows over—but she knows it might take more than a catchy new single to win everyone back.”

As Swift’s tour trudges on, the empty seats serve as a reminder of the fine line celebrities must walk when mixing art and politics. For Taylor Swift, the echoes of those empty arenas may be louder than any of the criticism she’s faced in her career. Whether she can regain her footing—or if she’ll continue to face the consequences of her endorsement—remains to be seen. But for now, it seems Swift is navigating the most difficult performance of her life.