Tyler, The Creator accuses ‘racist’ Swifties of trying to cancel him: 'They gonna bring out the old me'

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS: Tyler, The Creator, has addressed what he describes as “racist” criticism from Taylor Swift’s fanbase whom he claims are attempting to cancel him over lyrics of his past songs.

The 33-year-old rapper and producer called out Swift’s fans during a surprise Halloween performance in Boston on October 31 while promoting his new album 'Chromakopia'.

Tyler, The Creator calls out Taylor Swift's fans over backlash

Standing atop a green shipping container with his album's title displayed prominently, Tyler, The Creator addressed his frustration with Swift’s fans, known as "Swifties," and the backlash he says they’ve directed at him over controversial past lyrics.

“I got Swifties all mad at me with their racist a** bringing up old lyrics,” Tyler told the Boston crowd, according to footage of the performance.

He referred to specific instances where his older songs have drawn renewed criticism, particularly his song 'Fish' from his 2009 album 'Goblin' and the 2011 track 'Tron Cat' where he rapped about violent themes.

Tyler faced widespread criticism for the lyrics at the time, yet he performed 'Tron Cat' recently at the 2021 Lollapalooza Festival, according to Daily Mail. 

Referencing 'Tron Cat' directly during his Boston set, Tyler said, “B***h go listen to ‘Tron Cat,’ I don’t give a f**k h*e."

He added, “They gonna bring out the old me," warning that the backlash undeterred him.

Taylor Swift and Tyler, The Creator compete for the top spot at Spotify

While it remains unclear exactly why Taylor Swift’s fans targeted Tyler, The Creator, some speculate that the tension may stem from the artists’ recent competition for the top spot on Spotify's global Top Artists chart.

According to chart data, Tyler recently took the number-one spot from Swift who then reclaimed it shortly after.

Since its launch, this brief chart-topping success marked the first time Tyler, The Creator had dethroned Swift on the Spotify chart.

As he continues to celebrate his 'Chromakopia' release, Tyler will embark on a world tour in February 2024, with performances across North America, followed by UK and Europe dates starting in April.

Tyler, The Creator reflects on past controversies and cancel culture

Much of Tyler, The Creator's early music includes controversial lyrics and he has faced restrictions over the years.

In 2015, he was banned from entering the United Kingdom for three to five years due to the content of certain songs.

“Coming to the UK is a privilege, and we expect those who come here to respect our shared values,” read a statement from the British Home Office at the time.

Tyler expressed his disappointment, saying he felt like “a criminal” during his detainment. “[A Border Force officer] showed me lyrics from songs … literally, a paper with five lines of lyrics, and four were from 'Bastard' songs and one was from ‘Tron Cat,’” Tyler told The Guardian.

Tyler said he was barred from the UK with a letter accusing him of supporting “homophobia and acts of terrorism.”

He questioned the ban, saying, “I was here seven weeks ago. I rented out a movie theatre for a show. I did something really awesome, and it was no problem,” he added.

On his new track 'Thought I Was Dead' from 'Chromakopia', Tyler appears to address cancel culture directly, rapping, “Pull up old tweets, pull up old t-shirts, all that, I moonwalk over that b**** (Hee-hee),” in a line that hints at his dismissal of ongoing scrutiny over his past actions.