The former "Top Gear" host, Jeremy Clarkson, has taken aim at Taylor Swift, expressing weariness with her personal life being in the spotlight everywhere and questioning her musical prowess. He is risking the wrath of Swifties with his disparaging comment, even though he himself admitted to have not heard a single Swift song.
Amidst Taylor's ongoing Eras tour, her blossoming romance with American football player Travis Kelce, and the debut of her latest album, The Tortured Poets Department, the 64-year-old TV personality has had enough.
Clarkson Says Swift is Oversharing Her Life
Swift's recent album has stirred media attention for candidly addressing her past relationships with British celebrities Matty Healy, 35, and Joe Alwyn, 33; and the constant coverage is driving Clarkson mad.
Emerging from his focus on promoting his Amazon reality series, "Clarkson's Farm," Jeremy took time to make a critique Taylor for her excessive divulgence of personal information.
Pop culture and music fans are displeased that the singer's new album is being featured on all BBC entertainment platforms, including the more sophisticated Radio 4 show Thought for the Day on the Today Programme.
Many believe this is a poor attempt to appeal to younger viewers and listeners. Jeremy however, said it's not just BBC that's doing the same.
He feels that Swift is overexposed outside of the BBC so instead of just enjoying her songs, people are now more aware of her tastes in men.
He ranted to The Sun: "All week, people have been saying that Taylor Swift's new album received far too much free publicity on the BBC. It's not just the BBC, though. Everyone is talking about Taylor Swift. And as a result, I know what outfits she favours. I know what pubs she likes. I know where she's from. And I know she seems to enjoy the company of British men. But I can put my hand on my heart and say I've never knowingly heard a single one of her songs."
His comments however, are probably not going to be wholheartedly accepted by the Swifties, given how he never heard of one song from the star to undermine her prowess.
Neil Tennant Says Swift Cannot Produce Anything Timeless
Clarkson's critical remarks echo similar sentiments expressed by Pet Shop Boys singer Neil Tennant, who has lambasted the American star for her forgettable hits. The 69-year-old electronic pop icon, renowned for classics like "West End Girls," "It's A Sin," and "Always on My Mind," contended that while the world is well-versed in Taylor's personal life, she has yet to create a timeless classic.
In an interview last month, Tennant said: "I was looking at the chart today and it is all Taylor Swift. She sorts of fascinates me as a phenomenon because she is so popular. But then I listen to the records and I think, 'Where are the famous songs? What is Taylor Swift's Billie Jean?' Shake It Off? I listened to that the other day and it is not Billie Jean, is it?"
Before the new album dropped however, or even before she let the world knew she was working on one, which did not cross many's minds since she was already so busy with her love life, her re-recordings, and then her Eras Tour, there was already talks of her entering her "oversaturated" era.
According to an opinion piece in CNN, she is just everywhere and there's no escape. This is not good, even for an artist whose income comes from being adored. The writer blames the media though and not Swift.
