In a turn of events, Taylor Swift’s manager has confirmed what many feared: ticket sales for the pop superstar’s highly-anticipated tour have come to a complete halt following her recent endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris. What was once expected to be a record-breaking, sold-out tour has now turned into a desert of empty seats and unsold arenas. According to Swift’s manager, “We are not selling tickets after the backlash.”
Swift, known for her ability to sell out stadiums in a matter of minutes, has been blindsided by the fallout. Fans, it seems, have spoken, and many are not happy with their favorite star’s political turn. And while Swift has never shied away from controversy, this latest development is hitting her where it hurts the most: in the pocketbook.
It all started with a well-intentioned Instagram post. Taylor Swift, a long-time advocate for social justice and progressive causes, publicly endorsed Kamala Harris for president. The post, which was accompanied by a polished photo of Swift looking confident and politically engaged, read: “Kamala Harris is the future of this country. I am proud to support her and I hope my fans do too.”
What followed was not the wave of support Swift had anticipated. Instead, fans — many of whom had admired her for her catchy heartbreak songs and empowerment ballads — began unfollowing her in droves. But it wasn’t just on social media where Swift felt the hit. Ticket sales for her upcoming Eras tour , which had been selling like hotcakes before the support, suddenly ground to a halt.
“It’s like someone turned off a switch,” his manager said in a recent interview. “One minute we were celebrating record sales, the next we were watching the numbers come to a standstill. We never saw it coming.”
For years, Taylor Swift’s fan base, affectionately known as the “Swifties,” has been a united force of nature. But the support for Harris has thrown her fan base into chaos. Many longtime fans, who previously supported Swift at every turn, now felt betrayed by her decision to take a stand in the political arena.
“I’m here for the music, not the politics,” said one former fan. “I used to love Taylor, but this is too much. I don’t need her telling me who to vote for.”
Swift’s team had anticipated some backlash, but had no idea it would hurt ticket sales so much. “Sure, we thought some fans might be upset,” her manager said. “But we never expected them to stop buying tickets altogether. We’ve had venues call us asking if the tour is still on because sales have completely dried up.”
In some cities, the numbers are truly worrying. A venue in Dallas, Texas, that was expected to sell out in minutes has sold just 1,500 tickets out of a capacity of 60,000. In Los Angeles, ticket sales for Swift’s three nights at SoFi Stadium dropped from one sold-out show to just a few thousand, leaving Swift’s team scrambling to fill seats.
“We might have to start offering free tickets just to avoid the embarrassment of playing to an empty stadium,” his manager said, half-joking. “At this rate, we might have to rename the tour ‘The Empty Seats Tour.’”
