Taylor Swift Reveals How She Deals With Critics: “I Mock Them Back”.
Taylor Swift, 36, opened up about how she handles criticism and the overwhelming level of fame she has experienced, revealing that she sometimes chooses to “mock” her critics. The pop superstar reflected on her career during a retrospective conversation with the Recording Academy’s Songwriters & Composers Wing on Monday.
In the interview, recorded on August 18 for The Icon Sessions, Swift discussed how she refuses to let negative public opinion interfere with her creativity or artistic process.
Swift said that criticism can sometimes fuel her creativity, admitting that she finds it amusing to “mock” those who mock her. The Grammy winner also joked that she enjoys using sophisticated words that critics may have to look up before criticizing her.
She added that she has developed several coping mechanisms over the years, including reminding herself that she chose this life and has continued to choose it every day, even as her fame grew to an overwhelming level.
She explained that she chose to stay in the spotlight because of how deeply she loves making music. For Swift, everything that comes with fame is ultimately worth it as long as she can continue creating and sharing her music.
Swift also shared with Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. one of the common criticisms she often hears from fans, noting that people sometimes dismiss her words by saying, “Easy for you to say.”
She explained that she makes music primarily for her fans—people who genuinely care about her work and turn to music as a source of comfort, much like she once did. Swift added that releasing music should not be about seeking universal approval, and continuing to create despite that realization shows that an artist truly loves what they do for the right reasons.
Swift also delighted fans with a surprise mashup performance during the Icon Sessions. She performed her Toy Story 5track “I Knew It, I Knew You,” along with “August” from Folklore and “All Too Well” from Red.
“I never turned to music to forget my human experience,” Swift said.
Swift explained that she turns to music not to escape her experiences, but to preserve and make sense of them. She said songwriting allows her to explore consequences, meaningful choices, and the passage of time.
During the interview and performance, Swift also showed off her wedding band and the large engagement ring Kelce gave her.
Meanwhile, Kelce recently spoke about married life, shortly after friends of the newlyweds said Swift was enjoying “bliss” as Mrs. Kelce and settling into their life together.
The NFL star described their wedding as “crazy” and called the ceremony the “best night” of his life. Speaking at Kansas City Chiefs training camp ahead of their preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams, Kelce said the celebration was filled with excitement before quickly turning his attention back to football.
