Taylor Swift Reflects on Career, Feuds, and Triumphs in TIME Interview
Taylor Swift Reflects on Career Defining Moments in Candid Interview with TIME
In a recent interview with TIME, Taylor Swift opened up about some of the most pivotal moments in her life and career, including her years-old feud with Kim Kardashian and Kanye West. The interview comes as TIME named Swift its person of the year for 2023.
Swift didn’t hold back when discussing the impact of the drama that unfolded seven years ago. She revealed, “Make no mistake — my career was taken away from me. That took me down psychologically to a place I’ve never been before.”
The feud began in 2016 when West released a song called “Famous” with lyrics that referenced Swift. A public dispute ensued, with Kardashian sharing edited video clips of a phone call between Swift and West. Swift described it as a “fully manufactured frame job” orchestrated by Kardashian.
The fallout from the feud led Swift to retreat from the public eye, with the singer admitting, “I moved to a foreign country. I didn’t leave a rental house for a year. I was afraid to get on phone calls.”
However, in 2023, Swift finds herself at the peak of her popularity. Unedited footage of the phone call with West emerged in 2020, vindicating Swift in the eyes of many. Additionally, Kardashian and West split in 2021.
In the interview, Swift also addressed her feud with Scott Borchetta, the owner of her former label, over the sale of her catalog to Scooter Braun. Reflecting on the experience, Swift shared, “I’ve also learned there’s no point in actively trying to quote unquote defeat your enemies. Trash takes itself out every single time.”
Swift’s accomplishments in 2023 include being named Billboard’s Top Artist, top global artist on Spotify and Apple Music, Forbes’ fifth-most powerful woman in the world, and People’s most intriguing person of the year.
As Swift continues to navigate the highs and lows of fame, her resilience and honesty in the face of adversity have solidified her status as a cultural icon.