do you like the new taylor swift album?

Taylor Swift released a new album last week and, predictably, the internet imploded. Not because of the music itself (though of course there are plenty of takes on that), but because everyone suddenly felt compelled to have an opinion. Think pieces, reaction videos, Reddit rants - the cycle kicked into gear within hours.

I was busy hosting a campus-wide workwear swap on Friday afternoon, so I had listened to The Life of a Showgirl (quite a few times, if I’m being honest) but hadn’t been online to see the discourse. Later that night at a party, my friend asked me what I thought of the album and informed me that it was getting ripped apart online. And I laughed because of course it was. As was The Tortured Poet’s Department. As was Midnights, Folklore, reputation - especially reputation. Par for the course.

It’s not a new phenomenon. Every time Taylor releases something - a music video, a re-recording, a single breath - a corner of the internet decides it’s time to declare that they “don’t get the hype,” that “she’s overrated,” or that “the whole Swiftie thing is cultish.” Somehow, it’s still seen as edgy to dislike one of the most successful artists of our generation.

Because here’s the thing: it has never been cool to like Taylor Swift. Trust me, I would know.

You tell somebody you’re a Taylor Swift fan, and you get this certain look of silent judgment. Or someone immediately responds “Oh, I hate her!” Like, ok?

The jokes about her dating life and the mockery of her fans have all been part of the package. Loving Taylor has always required a bit of resilience.

And it’s hard for me to separate that from sexism.

I see this in the startup world. Women, as we all know from the female founder’s edition a few weeks back, only receive 1-2% of all VC funding. When you look at women-led businesses that are built for women, I don’t have an exact number but expect it to hover just around 0%.

Things made for women by women are very often discredited as frivolous. Trivial. Unimportant. And that’s the way it’s always felt as a Swiftie. She’s criticized for only writing breakup songs. Then for only writing joyful songs. She’s too lyrically complex. Then not lyrically complex enough. No, we don’t like the switch to pop. Why isn’t this a pop song?

It’s such a perfect example of the double standards women experience every day, just magnified to a global scale. It blows my mind that people don’t see it for what it is.

So why do some people feel the need to criticize what brings other people joy?

Part of it, I think, comes from a culture that rewards contrarianism. We equate having a “hot take” with having a personality (spoiler alert: it’s not). We want to be the first to say something clever. And with social media, the loudest, most negative voices tend to rise to the top. The algorithm doesn’t care if you’re being mean, just that you’re being engaging.

The truth is there’s something vulnerable about enthusiasm. About loving things openly, without irony. About saying “this makes me happy” and meaning it. Maybe it feels safer for people to roll their eyes than to care.

At Tennie, we think there’s something powerful about caring. About being intentional, expressive, and grounded in what you love, even when the world tells you to tone it down. Joy doesn’t need to be justified.

And I think that applies to the office, too.

✨tennie tip: Wear the colorful outfit to work. So many young women I’ve spoken to are scared to stand out in a corporate setting, defaulting to blue and black. If that’s your vibe, amazing, but I would love if more women wore what felt authentic to them.

✨tennie tip: Bring more of yourself to the table. Especially in male-dominated spaces, I believe that you shouldn’t have to know the Bears’ record or have a perfect golf swing to feel like you belong. If you bring up your newest hobby or favorite TV show, you invite others to do the same, creating a more inclusive space for all.

So no, you don’t have to like Taylor Swift. You don’t even have to listen. But I encourage you to be open-minded and open-hearted to your classmates, coworkers, and communities. The next time you feel the urge to criticize something that other people clearly adore, ask yourself: what’s the harm in letting people have their thing?

Because the internet - and the workplace - don’t need another malicious soliloquy.

They need a little more grace.