Fox host warns Taylor Swift: Don't wade into politics, “just perform”
Harris Faulkner: “She can vote how she wants, talk about it offstage, but when people pay to see you, just perform”
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From the August 7, 2024, edition of Fox News' Outnumbered
KAYLEIGH MCENANY (CO-HOST): A simple endorsement from Taylor Swift could impact the right house - white house. Democrats are praying for that, praying that it will fire up young voters. In "The New York Times" reported back in January that Swift was the Biden campaign's biggest and most influential endorsement target. And now fans think Swift may have given a clue. Fans think that this photo, that you're looking at, posted on Swift's social media, which shows a silhouette in the background of Harris, some would say. But however, Swift hasn't made any public statements on the election yet. And look, Emily, this could all be much to-do about nothing. I looked at this this morning there was a series of seven photos, and this was the seventh photo and some say it's a silhouette of Kamala Harris, and some say it's a backup dancer who just was shaded in the background and maybe nothing to see here. I don't know.
EMILY COMPAGNO (CO-HOST): I think that there are mountains that are made out of mole hills, especially when Taylor Swift is the subject, because so many people adore her and love to dissect everything. I do think that what we need to emphasize, however, is the enormous sway and influence that she does indeed have. She has spoken publicly before that she would stay out of it for that reason, and I'm hoping here we don't use a celebrity influence and endorsement as an actual impact on the presidential election that has real impact on so many Americans' lives.
MCENANY: Now, Harris, she did get involved last time.
HARRIS FAULKNER (CO-HOST): Yes she did.
KAYLEIGH MCENANY: She made a tweet, she said this; "I spoke to V magazine about why I will be voting for J B, Joe Biden, for president. So it's appropriate that I come out the night of the VP debate. Going to be watching, supporting Kamala Harris by yelling at the TV a lot and I also have some custom cookies." And you see her with the cookies. But her father cautioned against this. "People" magazine, "Why Taylor Swift's terrified father opposed her taking a political stance." I think it would be unwise. She will make her decision but you're going to isolate people.
HARIRS FAULKNER: And there are some grabs from the family conversation. And I mean it was tearful, reportedly, and it was tough with her dad. I was not there.
BILL HEMMER (FOX ANCHOR): Good reporting
HARRIS FAULKNER: Two things about this: the tickets are extremely expensive to go see her. I know, because you know my Bella's 16th birthday, that's what she wanted. She is a huge Taylor Swift fan. And if we are going to pay that much money as consumers, you don't need to serve up politics for that. It's divided us as such a nation, why can't you go to a concert without that? She can vote any kind of way she wants, she can talk about it offstage, but when people pay to see you, just perform. And by the way, I mean this is just my take on that picture, if you're a backup dancer, why are you in a suit? You can see that that's a blazer and those are pants.