Phoebe Bridgers called out for comparing Taylor Swift's Eras Tour with 'Beatlemania' and 'Thriller' craze

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Following the onset of her record-breaking world tour and her ascent to the top of the streaming charts in 2023, Taylor Swift received another honor when Time magazine named her its 'Person of the Year', on Wednesday, December 6.

Traveling the world for her 'Eras Tour', the 33-year-old singer broke attendance records, promoted the local economy in every location she stopped in, and performed songs from her entire discography, as reported by Reuters.

While Swifties were celebrating their beloved singer's victories, Phoebe Bridgers' comment comparing Swift's Eras Tour with that of Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' release and "Beatlemania" has drawn a significant amount of criticism from online users.

'Beatlemania and Thriller have nothing on these shows'

According to the magazine, Swift accepted the award in the year that her nearly two decades of prominence and influence has peaked. TIME stated that she is the first artist to receive recognition for her achievements as a performer.

"This is the proudest and happiest I’ve ever felt, and the most creatively fulfilled and free I’ve ever been," Swift told Time magazine, which has given the honor to nearly every president of the United States since it began in 1927.

According to Billboard, the 'Eras Tour', which will now travel through Asia, Australia, Europe, and the United States in 2024, is expected to break all previous tour records for global ticket sales.

Billboard reported that in 2023 itself, the tour has earned over $900 million in income, with each show earning roughly $14 million.

Speaking of the grandiose world tour, Swift’s friend and collaborator, Phoebe Bridgers, compared it with the King of Pop's 'Thriller' release and "Beatlemania" in the US — both significant cultural moments in pop music.

Bridgers said, "Beatlemania and Thriller have nothing on these shows," as per Time.

In Argentina, fans camped out in front of the arena for months to secure good seats; others even gave up their day jobs to devote themselves entirely to their fandom activities.

Others in the United States waited in line for days to hear the music, while those who were unable to get entry 'Taylor-gated' in surrounding parking lots. Ticketmaster crashed in 2022 when tickets went on sale.

For the 2023 concerts, 4.1 million tickets were sold, with over 2 million sold on the first day, setting a new record. However, scalpers increased prices to over $22,000 on the secondary market.

Swift told Time, "I knew this tour was harder than anything I’d ever done before by a long shot." With more than 40 songs from at least nine albums, each show lasts more than 180 minutes.

In addition, there are 16 wardrobe changes, pyrotechnics, two distinct cottagecore worlds with lots of moss, and an optical illusion where she appears to fall onto the stage and swim.

Netizens call Phoebe Bridgers 'weirdo' for her 'Eras Tour' comparison 

Following Swift’s friend Bridgers' bombastic statement, took to the online platform X (formerly Twitter) to condemn the singer for her opinion.

One such X user slammed her and wrote: "Phoebe Bridgers is a weirdo for this comment. Girl you weren’t even alive during those times so what makes you qualified to give an opinion lol, there weren’t even a thriller tour, u idiot. Just focus on Taylor and mind ur business. Why you gotta try & shade other artists for?"

A second one condemned Bridgers and added, "What an insult to Michael Jackson the greatest artist of all time"

Sharing a clip from one of MJ's shows, a third user wrote: "Lol she doesn't come close to having this kind of aura"

Another MJ fan noted, "Michael Jackson anti gravity lean and moonwalk is bigger than both of their entire careers. All y'all keep proven is Michael Jackson remains the industry standard that he was and always will be. Nobody is reaching Michael Jackson level"

"It’s completely unnecessary to compare TS to MJ. Because he’s incomparable," wrote another one.

One more wrote: "Most unfortunate part of taylor phenomenon is that other musicians are in thrall to her. like why is phoebe bridgers saying the eras tour is bigger than beatlemania and thriller? just so that i lose all respect for her?"

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.