Trying to guess Taylor Swift's political affiliations has been much like that time we all tried to figure out who the hell was Gossip Girl.
However, the 28-year-old has just made a rare political statement ahead of the midterm elections next month, much to her fans' surprise.
Last night, the singer took to Instagram to reveal who she is voting for in the elections on 6 November and why. The performer - who is currently on her Reputation world tour - revealed she will be voting in Tennessee.
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'I'm writing this post about the upcoming midterm elections on November 6th,' she wrote on social media.
Swift revealed that the last two years have had a profound impact on her life and played a significant role in her speaking out about her political leanings.
In August 2017, the '22' singer won her case against DJ David Mueller in which she accused him of groping her.
In the Instagram statement, the singer alluded to the case, writing: 'In the past I've been reluctant to publicly voice my political opinions, but due to several events in my life and in the world in the past two years, I feel very differently about that now.'
She continued to explain what she wanted to see from an ideal political candidate.
'I always have and always will cast my vote based on which candidate will protect and fight for the human rights I believe we all deserve in this country,' she added.
The artist also revealed what she believes is right and wrong.
'I believe in the fight for LGBTQ rights, and that any form of discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender is WRONG,' she explained. 'I believe that the systemic racism we still see in this country towards people of colour is terrifying, sickening and prevalent.'
The star also endorsed Senate candidate Phil Bredesen and Congressional candidate Jim Cooper. She explained she would not be voting for Marsha Blackburn, despite her desire to 'continue voting for women in office'.
'Her voting record in Congress appalls and terrifies me,' she said of her decision.
'She voted against equal pay for women. She voted against the Reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, which attempts to protect women from domestic violence, stalking, and date rape. She believes businesses have a right to refuse service to gay couples. She also believes they should not have the right to marry. These are not MY Tennessee values.'
Swift concluded her caption encouraging everyone to register to vote.
'So many intelligent, thoughtful, self-possessed people have turned 18 in the past two years and now have the right and privilege to make their vote count,' she wrote. 'But first you need to register.'
Following Swift's Instagram statement, the Twitterverse has gone into overdrive to discuss the star's on-going feud with Kanye West, days after the rapper disappeared from social media following issuing several controversial statements.
Earlier this month, the father-of-three came under fire for saying the 13th amendment of the US Constitution, which brought an end to slavery, should be abolished - a statement he later clarified, explaining he meant to write 'amend'.
The Chicago-born producer also wore a hat with Donald Trump's slogan 'Make America Great Again' during his recent performance on the American comedy show Saturday Night Live a few weeks ago and reportedly gave an unscripted, off-air rant in support of the president to the audience, reports the BBC.
Ahead of the 2016 US elections, fans speculated that Swift had subtly revealed which particular presidential candidate she would be voting for.
At the time, the singer implored her fellow US citizens to 'go out and vote'.
Following the snap, several of her followers suggested the top which Swift wore in the picture was similar to a shoulderless turtleneck jumper worn by Lena Dunham in tribute of Hillary Clinton during the elections.
Read Taylor Swift's full Instagram statement on the mid-term elections below:
I’m writing this post about the upcoming midterm elections on November 6th, in which I’ll be voting in the state of Tennessee. In the past I’ve been reluctant to publicly voice my political opinions, but due to several events in my life and in the world in the past two years, I feel very differently about that now. I always have and always will cast my vote based on which candidate will protect and fight for the human rights I believe we all deserve in this country. I believe in the fight for LGBTQ rights, and that any form of discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender is WRONG. I believe that the systemic racism we still see in this country towards people of color is terrifying, sickening and prevalent.
I cannot vote for someone who will not be willing to fight for dignity for ALL Americans, no matter their skin color, gender or who they love. Running for Senate in the state of Tennessee is a woman named Marsha Blackburn. As much as I have in the past and would like to continue voting for women in office, I cannot support Marsha Blackburn. Her voting record in Congress appalls and terrifies me. She voted against equal pay for women. She voted against the Reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, which attempts to protect women from domestic violence, stalking, and date rape. She believes businesses have a right to refuse service to gay couples. She also believes they should not have the right to marry. These are not MY Tennessee values. I will be voting for Phil Bredesen for Senate and Jim Cooper for House of Representatives. Please, please educate yourself on the candidates running in your state and vote based on who most closely represents your values. For a lot of us, we may never find a candidate or party with whom we agree 100% on every issue, but we have to vote anyway.
So many intelligent, thoughtful, self-possessed people have turned 18 in the past two years and now have the right and privilege to make their vote count. But first you need to register, which is quick and easy to do. October 9th is the LAST DAY to register to vote in the state of TN. Go to vote.org and you can find all the info. Happy Voting!
Katie O'Malley is the Site Director on ELLE UK. On a daily basis you’ll find Katie managing all digital workflow, editing site, video and newsletter content, liaising with commercial and sales teams on new partnerships and deals (eg Nike, Tiffany & Co., Cartier etc), implementing new digital strategies and compiling in-depth data traffic, SEO and ecomm reports. In addition to appearing on the radio and on TV, as well as interviewing everyone from Oprah Winfrey to Rishi Sunak PM, Katie enjoys writing about lifestyle, culture, wellness, fitness, fashion, and more.
