Latest news with #TheFateofOphelia


Express Tribune
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Taylor Swift fans defend singer amid The Life of a Showgirl cover backlash
Taylor Swift has unveiled details of her 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl, set for release on 3 October 3. The project will feature 12 tracks, including a collaboration with Sabrina Carpenter, and production from Max Martin, Shellback and Swift herself. Sharing the cover art, tracklist and release date on Instagram, Swift captioned the post: 'And, baby, that's show business for you.' Photo: Taylor Swift instagram The announcement, which received more than nine million likes, also revealed songs such as The Fate of Ophelia, Elizabeth Taylor, Father Figure and the title track featuring Carpenter. Following the reveal, some social media users criticised Swift's outfits in the album imagery, with comments suggesting she was imitating other artists or lowering her standards. Remarks included comparisons to Britney Spears' Circus era and references to Beyoncé, Jennifer Lopez, Chappell Roan and Kylie Minogue. Others urged her to 'put some clothes on' or questioned her suitability as a role model. Fans responded on platforms including Reddit, defending the singer's creative choices and challenging expectations placed on her image. One user wrote: 'Celebrities are not meant to be your children's role models. Be a parent and explain bodily autonomy.' Others noted that Swift, 35, is a seasoned artist with the right to evolve her style. Supporters online praised her reunion with Martin and Shellback, with one fan posting: 'This is about to be a pop masterpiece for the ages.' Another wrote: 'So so so excited for this new era! Thank you for sharing your words and your feelings with us.'


Time of India
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Taylor Swift fans speculate THIS song from upcoming 'The Life of a Showgirl' album is about Blake Lively
Taylor Swift recently announced the tracklist of her upcoming album, 'The Life of a Showgirl,' and one of the song titles has fans wondering if it's about Blake Lively . On Wednesday, the songstress dropped the names of the 12 tracks of the album that will be out on October 3, 2025. Let's check why the Swifties felt the tracks are about Blake Lively. Taylor Swift fans wonder if the tracks are about Blake Lively Though the songs 'The Fate of Ophelia' and ' Elizabeth Taylor ' sparked interest among the fans, the title 'Ruin the Friendship' has left them speculating about Taylor's longtime friend. They also felt that track 10—'Cancelled'—is also about the latter. According to Just Jared, Brazilian TV host Didi Effe shared on social media, "I am CER-TAIN that Ruin The Friendship on Taylor Swift's new album is about Blake Lively." Soon, Billy Bush on his podcast added fuel to the fire of speculations that the singer might "shade" the actress on the album. In April this year, a source told the People that Taylor was "really hurt" after she got pulled into legal drama. The next month, it was reported that the duo is taking space but has yet to end their friendship. Meanwhile, in June, insiders told the publication that they are on "good terms," but their friendship is not the same as before. Taylor Swift and Blake Lively's friendship For those unaware, Blake and Taylor's friendship has come under fire as a result of the former's legal struggle with co-star and director Justin Baldoni of their film 'It Ends With Us.' Lively filed a complaint against the director in December 2024 along with producer Jamey Heath and production company Wayfarer Studios, accusing them of sexual harassment and a smear campaign against her. However, the other side has denied all the allegations. How Taylor Swift's name came into this Blake Lively Vs Justin Baldoni drama Taylor Swift's name got involved in the legal tussle when Baldoni's lawyers alleged that the songstress pressured him to accept Blake's rewrites on the movie. Though a subpoena for Taylor's conversations was eventually dismissed, court filings reveal Justin's lawyers continued to pursue access to correspondence between her and Blake. In June, a judge refused Blake's motion to prevent the communications from being shared. "Get the latest news updates on Times of India, including reviews of the movie Coolie and War 2 ."


The Hill
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Hill
Taylor Swift's chat with the Kelces on ‘New Heights' marks a milestone moment for podcasts
Since nothing Taylor Swift ever does is small, her two-hour conversation with boyfriend Travis Kelce and his brother Jason Kelce on their 'New Heights' podcast is a watershed moment for a media format that has already outlived the device it was named for. By Thursday afternoon, Wednesday night's talk had already been seen more than 11.7 million times on YouTube. But that's only a fraction of its circulation — clips distributed on Instagram, TikTok, X and elsewhere have received more than 400 million views, and the episode was also available for streaming on audio platforms. Swift, who infrequently gives interviews to journalists, revealed key information about her upcoming album, 'The Life of a Showgirl,' and talked about her relationships with Travis Kelce and her family, and her joy of gaining full control of her past work — a yearslong quest. It was a revelation for fans with whom she's primarily communicated through her music and social media Easter eggs, a treasure hunt of clues about what she's doing professionally. 'We have not heard Taylor speak in like a long-form interview like that in about five years,' Alex Antonides, a superfan from Dallas, told The Associated Press. 'She's never been in that comfortable of a situation, either. It's always been like more professional, like a professional interviewer asking her questions. And then this is like with her boyfriend and his brother. So that was … an environment we've truly never seen her in before.' Celebrities like a friendly face for public talks Swift cemented a trend that's been seen in recent years among entertainers, sports figures and politicians who seek to deliver particular messages. A visit to friendly faces for a long-form conversation beats questions from nosy, prying journalists. In this case, Swift and Travis Kelce locked arms and cooed at each other between admiring queries. 'My boyfriend says,' Swift said in asides when Kelce laid things on too thick. 'The Kelce brothers have become the Barbara Walters of their generation,' said Nick Cicero, founder of Mondo Metrics, which studies the podcast industry. Fans ate it up. 'I think it's really nice and refreshing, especially for a woman whose primary fan base is young women, to see somebody that is so celebratory of their partner and also not self-deprecating in a bad way, but also really admires what they do, and they don't try to minimize that,' one fan, Britton Copeland, who goes by Britton Rae on TikTok, said in a Zoom interview. Swift interpreters immediately began online discussions about What It All Means. One fan discussed theories about the still-unheard song, 'The Fate of Ophelia,' listed as the new album's first cut. Others pointed out that the album release date of Oct. 3 coincided with National Plaid Day — apparently a Swift obsession — and National Boyfriend's Day. Such Easter eggs are likely to bring listeners back to the 'New Heights' interview again and again, meaning it could eventually stand as the most listened-to podcast episode on YouTube ever. 'It's got a chance,' Cicero said. Podcasts emerged in the 2000s as an audio-only programming format tied to Apple's now-defunct iPod. The New Oxford American Dictionary called 'podcast' its word of the year in 2005, even as many in the industry sought an alternative name almost as soon as it was coined. The well-regarded 'Serial' podcasts helped bring the format into the mainstream a decade ago. Particularly since the pandemic, and with the explosive growth of YouTube and personalities like Joe Rogan, video podcasts have become far more popular. Like most interview podcasts, 'New Heights' can also be enjoyed in an audio format — and it's background noise even for many who air it on YouTube — but being able to see Swift and the Kelces interact has its benefits. Will Swift outdraw President Trump's appearance with Rogan? Rogan's interview with President Donald Trump was a key moment in the 2024 presidential campaign, and has been seen 59 million times on YouTube in nine months. Certainly Swifties — and possibly Trump himself — will be eager to see if the 'New Heights' interview exceeds that number. Swift is among the celebrities who has drawn the president's ire. It has further to go to be a record-setter, though. The most-watched podcast episode ever on YouTube, and likely the most-consumed podcast ever, is Abdulrahman Abu Maleh's interview with relationship coach Yasser Hazimi for 'Secrets to Thriving Relationships' from the Saudi Arabian company Thmanyah. It has racked up 144 million views in two years. Swift's and the Kelces' teams were was particularly skillful in creating a huge demand for the interview with how its spread clips across various social media platforms, said Tom Webster, founder of Sounds Profitable, a firm that analyzes the podcast industry. By Thursday morning, Instagram highlights alone from the interview were viewed more than 350 million times, Cicero said. ___


Winnipeg Free Press
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
Taylor Swift's chat with the Kelces on ‘New Heights' marks a milestone moment for podcasts
Since nothing Taylor Swift ever does is small, her two-hour conversation with boyfriend Travis Kelce and his brother Jason Kelce on their 'New Heights' podcast is a watershed moment for a media format that has already outlived the device it was named for. By Thursday afternoon, Wednesday night's talk had already been seen more than 11.7 million times on YouTube. But that's only a fraction of its circulation — clips distributed on Instagram, TikTok, X and elsewhere have received more than 400 million views, and the episode was also available for streaming on audio platforms. Swift, who infrequently gives interviews to journalists, revealed key information about her upcoming album, 'The Life of a Showgirl,' and talked about her relationships with Travis Kelce and her family, and her joy of gaining full control of her past work — a yearslong quest. It was a revelation for fans with whom she's primarily communicated through her music and social media Easter eggs, a treasure hunt of clues about what she's doing professionally. 'We have not heard Taylor speak in like a long-form interview like that in about five years,' Alex Antonides, a superfan from Dallas, told The Associated Press. 'She's never been in that comfortable of a situation, either. It's always been like more professional, like a professional interviewer asking her questions. And then this is like with her boyfriend and his brother. So that was … an environment we've truly never seen her in before.' Celebrities like a friendly face for public talks Swift cemented a trend that's been seen in recent years among entertainers, sports figures and politicians who seek to deliver particular messages. A visit to friendly faces for a long-form conversation beats questions from nosy, prying journalists. In this case, Swift and Travis Kelce locked arms and cooed at each other between admiring queries. 'My boyfriend says,' Swift said in asides when Kelce laid things on too thick. 'The Kelce brothers have become the Barbara Walters of their generation,' said Nick Cicero, founder of Mondo Metrics, which studies the podcast industry. Fans ate it up. 'I think it's really nice and refreshing, especially for a woman whose primary fan base is young women, to see somebody that is so celebratory of their partner and also not self-deprecating in a bad way, but also really admires what they do, and they don't try to minimize that,' one fan, Britton Copeland, who goes by Britton Rae on TikTok, said in a Zoom interview. Swift interpreters immediately began online discussions about What It All Means. One fan discussed theories about the still-unheard song, 'The Fate of Ophelia,' listed as the new album's first cut. Others pointed out that the album release date of Oct. 3 coincided with National Plaid Day — apparently a Swift obsession — and National Boyfriend's Day. Such Easter eggs are likely to bring listeners back to the 'New Heights' interview again and again, meaning it could eventually stand as the most listened-to podcast episode on YouTube ever. 'It's got a chance,' Cicero said. Podcasts emerged in the 2000s as an audio-only programming format tied to Apple's now-defunct iPod. The New Oxford American Dictionary called 'podcast' its word of the year in 2005, even as many in the industry sought an alternative name almost as soon as it was coined. The well-regarded 'Serial' podcasts helped bring the format into the mainstream a decade ago. Particularly since the pandemic, and with the explosive growth of YouTube and personalities like Joe Rogan, video podcasts have become far more popular. Like most interview podcasts, 'New Heights' can also be enjoyed in an audio format — and it's background noise even for many who air it on YouTube — but being able to see Swift and the Kelces interact has its benefits. Will Swift outdraw President Trump's appearance with Rogan? Rogan's interview with President Donald Trump was a key moment in the 2024 presidential campaign, and has been seen 59 million times on YouTube in nine months. Certainly Swifties — and possibly Trump himself — will be eager to see if the 'New Heights' interview exceeds that number. Swift is among the celebrities who has drawn the president's ire. It has further to go to be a record-setter, though. The most-watched podcast episode ever on YouTube, and likely the most-consumed podcast ever, is Abdulrahman Abu Maleh's interview with relationship coach Yasser Hazimi for 'Secrets to Thriving Relationships' from the Saudi Arabian company Thmanyah. It has racked up 144 million views in two years. Weekly A weekly look at what's happening in Winnipeg's arts and entertainment scene. Swift's and the Kelces' teams were was particularly skillful in creating a huge demand for the interview with how its spread clips across various social media platforms, said Tom Webster, founder of Sounds Profitable, a firm that analyzes the podcast industry. By Thursday morning, Instagram highlights alone from the interview were viewed more than 350 million times, Cicero said. ___ Associated Press journalist Alicia Rancilio contributed to this report from Detroit. ___ David Bauder writes about the intersection of media and entertainment for the AP. Follow him at and
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Taylor Swift reveals ‘Life of a Showgirl' album cover, track list and release date on Travis Kelce's 'New Heights' podcast
The new release is Swift's 12th album. It's no longer a cruel summer. Taylor Swift officially announced her new album The Life of a Showgirl on Aug. 12. And one day later, she shared more details about the upcoming work — including the cover art, track list and release date — as well as other surprises during her appearance on boyfriend Travis Kelce's podcast, New Heights. Fans noticed Swift was up to something earlier in the day, when a cryptic countdown was posted on Swift's "Taylor Nation" Instagram Story. The countdown led to 7 p.m. — when the New Heights podcast episode was set to drop. The post showed a glowing orange door, the same one that appeared on stage behind Swift during the Eras tour, as well as a link to Swift's website, which featured the same image, with the door slowly descending. Over the course of four hours, on every hour, four squares with locks at the center appeared next to the door. First there was an orange lock, then pink, then blue and finally white. Eagle-eyed fans noticed that in the center of each lock, where a key would be placed, was the same shape as the stage layout at the Eras tour. When 7 p.m. arrived, Swift's website revealed the cover of The Life of a Showgirl, which featured Swift in a sparkling outfit, laying in a pool of green water. The four squares corresponded to deluxe editions of the album. All are available until Aug. 16, while supplies last. Swift's Instagram post revealed the release date of the new album: Oct. 3. Swift also provided followers with the album's track list: The Fate of Ophelia Elizabeth Taylor Opalite Father Figure Eldest Daughter Ruin the Friendship Actually Romantic Wish List Wood CANCELLED! Honey The Life of a Showgirl, featuring Sabrina Carpenter The producers of the album are Max Martin, Shellback and Swift herself. Also at 7 p.m. came the drop of Swift's special episode of New Heights, hosted by Swift's boyfriend Kelce and his brother Jason Kelce. Swift discussed the Eras Tour, reclaiming her masters and her relationship with the NFL player in the episode. Swift also talked about what inspired the 12 songs that were written during her time on tour, calling it a look at what went on "behind the curtain" in her personal life. She said that unlike her albums Midnights and The Tortured Poets Department, which came with surprise additional songs, there would only be the already revealed 12 tracks on this album. Swift explained that the new work "comes from the most infectiously joyful, wild, dramatic place I was in in my life, and so that effervescence has come through on this record." She also teased that there is additional photography and a poem on the inside of the album that will be revealed when the record drops. Swift added that while past albums were more lyrically focused, Showgirl will boast "infectious anthems" that will have "lyrics that are just as vivid but crisp and focused and completely intentional." Swift's initial album reveal came in the form of a teaser for the podcast episode — but the clip, dropped on social media at 12:12 a.m., held back some key details. It showed Swift holding the album, but with the cover art blurred out, revealing only the green-and-orange color scheme. Swift, who completed her worldwide Eras tour in 2024, has long dropped "Easter eggs," or clues about her future work, for fans. The Life of a Showgirl album drop is no exception. A video posted to social media ahead of Swift's Miami performance on Oct. 18, 2024, showed the artist standing in front of section A12 — a clue as to when her album announcement would arrive. That night, she also performed her 1989 album set in orange and green — the colors of the Miami Hurricanes, in whose home stadium Swift performed, and also a hint at the aesthetic of the album to come. Swift has been regularly spotted in orange-and-green outfits over the past year, possibly foreshadowing the color scheme of the album. And one of the bigger clues came in the official music video for 'I Can Do It With a Broken Heart,' which featured backstage moments from the Eras tour. In the video, dancers rehearsed using orange feather fans — a prop that was never used on stage. The Eras tour performance of 'I Can Do It With a Broken Heart' featured Swift at her most "showgirly" — and she even had Kelce join her onstage during her June 23, 2024, show in London for the song. Solve the daily Crossword