"No YOU f*ck off. Do you have any idea what this means to me?" These are the conversations in my house now, and it's all because of Taylor Swift. Why is this beloved artist tearing my marriage apart? More importantly, what other lives has she ruined?
As a host on KROQ, I've been fortunate to see what many would call "once-in-a-lifetime" shows. I saw the Taylor Hawkins tribute show, a Depeche Mode private rehearsal...I've seen Billy Corgan play acoustic five feet from me for God's sake! But according to the general public, Taylor Swift is the biggest show that ever has been and ever will be, and people are spending their life savings to go. My wife, Katie, happens to be one of those people. When she said she wanted to go, I was initially supportive. I knew tickets would be expensive, but I was prepared to bite the bullet. We were lucky enough to go to the Vegas show. We even dawned matching onesies and covered ourselves in glitter.
The show was one of the best I've ever seen. Taylor Swift is an absolute powerhouse. But afterwards, I thought that was it. I was stunned the next morning when Katie's first words to me were, "I need to go again." What would follow was another 3 months of begging, pleading, and scouring the internet until she was finally able to get another ticket. This meant another $700, another round trip flight, another hotel. When she told me, I asked "why do you want to see the same show a second time?" She said she'd forgotten some of the concert by now and wanted to see it again alone, sober and present. She owed it to Taylor. Many eye rolls and several arguments later, I told her to go. This obviously meant a lot to her, why not let her enjoy it? Besides, if I said yes she'd stop bitching about it.
She flew. She saw. She returned. This time it was even better than she remembered. Soon after she got home, Taylor came to LA. Since then she's been surrounded by "Taylormania," striking up conversations about the show at every opportunity. When Taylor announced the second leg of her tour including 2024 dates in New Orleans and Miami, she floated the idea of seeing her a third time. I totally lost it.
“This is f*cking absurd!!! How much money are you going to spend seeing the same show a third time!?” I get having a passion, but does it have to be the most expensive passion on the planet?? To her I'm being cheap, jealous, unsupportive and insensitive. We've only got one life, why not live it to the fullest? To me, my one life will be spent in a rundown RV because my wife spent our life savings on glitter. We reached out to a couples therapist the next day.
I know I'm not alone. Taylor Swift has infiltrated the homes of couples all across America, and she needs to be held accountable. A guy I know has spent the last 3 months on the couch over this. Another friend just moved back in with his mom. How is a woman world famous for her breakup songs causing breakups everywhere she goes? How many more lives will be claimed by the Swizzle?
I'm supposed to end with some witty spin on one of her lyrics, but I'm too mad. If you or someone you know has been affected negatively by Taylor Swift, help is available. Call 800-956-GOAT to leave a message and let your voice be heard. #TaylorStrong