Fact Check: Did Taylor Swift deny to perform in 'racist Florida'?
MIAMI, FLORIDA: This month, social media was flooded with posts that claimed pop sensation Taylor Swift canceled all her tour dates in Florida because she considered the state "racist."
The latest claims about Swift gained traction online after the Juneteenth federal holiday on June 19, when a particular post on X (formerly Twitter) said, "Taylor Swift Cancelled All Tour Dates in What She Called 'Racist Florida.' Does Florida really care?" However, some dismissed the allegation of the post that garnered more than 690K views and 9000 comments. A user commented, "The truth maybe because she did not have many swifties there."
The viral social media post originated from an article published on the satirical Dunning Kruger Times website earlier this year.
An article claims Taylor Swift canceled her tour dates in 'racist' Florida
The Dunning-Kruger Times published the article titled 'Taylor Swift Cancels All Tour Dates in 'Racist' Florida.'
It said that the pop icon refused to perform in the Sunshine State because of Republican Governor Ron DeSantis' 2023 announcement to remove African American studies from the state's school curriculums.
The Dunning Kruger Times article further quoted 'assistant Governor Joe Barron' who explained DeSantis's move on the 'Wake Up And Smell the Meth' show.
"The thing is, DeSantis really doesn't like Black people at all. They're his least favorite of all the colors. He feels that in a perfect world, they wouldn't even be in a University setting in the first place. I mean, do you need to hear a reason? It speaks for itself. Republicans are racist. They just are."
It then added a brief comment claiming it was from Swift, which said, "It's absolutely disgusting, but sadly, what I'd expect from DeSantis and his miserable half-dead state of Florida. I mean, it's America's trash heap. Why would I go there? Shitty pizza and metamucil milkshakes?"
False: Taylor Swift did not cancel tour dates in 'racist' Florida
The viral post was false because the article it referred to was not based on real-life events but a satire, as per Snopes.
Moreover, The Dunning-Kruger Times, a subsidiary of 'America's Last Line of Defense's 'About Us' section, says, "Everything on this website is fiction. It is not a lie and it is not fake news because it is not real. If you believe that it is real, you should have your head examined. Any similarities between this site's pure fantasy and actual people, places, and events are purely coincidental and all images should be considered altered and satirical."
Therefore, Swift never labeled Florida a "racist" state. Also, she did not cancel all her shows in the Sunshine State. As of June 26, the website for her Eras Tour showed scheduled dates at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida, from October 18 to 20.
