Taylor Swift’s political awakening was on display in full flourish at the MTV Video Music Awards on Monday night as she called out Trump’s White House for ignoring her Equality Act petition.
The 29-year-old, who recently said she regrets remaining silent during the 2016 presidential election and vowed to be more active ahead of the 2020 election, made good on her promise during her triumphant night at the ceremony.
She gave a politically changed performance of her pro LGBTQ+ anthem You Need to Calm Down while opening the show; the words Equality Act flashed up during the rollicking rendition that featured rainbows and drag queens.
The track also brought the country-turned-pop singer one of the night’s top prizes – Video of the Year. It also took the ‘Video for Good’ statuette for songs that have raised awareness.
During her acceptance speech for Video of the Year, she told the crowd: ‘There still is a petition for the Equality Act, which basically says we all deserve equal rights under the law. And, I want to thank everyone who has signed that petition because it now has half a million signatures.’
She then went on to say the petition has ‘five times the amount that it would need to warrant a response from the White House.’
Called out: Taylor Swift who recently said she regrets remaining silent during the 2016 presidential election and vowed to be more active ahead of the 2020 election, made good on her promise during her triumphant night at the ceremony
She pretended to check her watch to emphasize how much time has passed since the petition reached that amount of signatures.
Swift was joined by her friends and co-stars from the music video, including her best friend Toderick Hall, Hannah Hart, and more.
The video beat out some famous songs such as the Jonas Brothers’ Sucker music video and Ariana Grande’s video for Thank You, Next.
Winner! The video beat out some famous songs such as the Jonas Brothers’ Sucker music video and Ariana Grande’s video for Thank You, Next
Beautiful moment: Toderick and Taylor share a special moment after it was announced that their video for You Need To Calm Down won Video of the Year
Swift opened the show with a rainbow-themed performance of her pro-LGBTQ single You Need to Calm Down, followed by her first live performance of the romantic ballad Lover, the lead single from her new, and already best-selling, album of the same name.
The opening number mimicked the famous music video featuring yellow lawn chairs which she lounged on as she opened up the performance.
As she sang she had enormous rainbows and endless amounts of glitter as she sang the the happy tune.
While she was performing, the singer continued her support of the Equality Act by beaming the words across the stage in bright in yellow as she strutted around.
Opening act: Taylor Swift ‘s political awakening was on display in full flourish at the MTV Video Music Awards on Monday night
Huge number: For the first number, the singer danced around with drag queens, some of whom performed with Miley Cyrus at the 2015 VMAs, while surrounded by rainbows
Helping hand: Back in May, Swift created a petition asking fans to help her support the Equality Act. The bill has been passed by the House of Representatives and is currently waiting for the Senate to vote
Back in May, Swift created a petition asking fans to help her support the Equality Act. The bill has been passed by the House of Representatives and is currently waiting for the Senate to vote.
If passed, it would help protect the LGBTQ community against discrimination based off of ‘sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity.’
She first voiced her support for the act back in October when she showed her support for candidates Phil Bredesen and Jim Cooper in the Tennessee midterm elections saying, ‘I believe in the fight for LGBTQ rights, and that any form of discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender is WRONG.’
Big change: Recently, Swift came out saying she is going to make some positive impact in the next election saying: I just wanna do everything I can for 2020. I wanna figure out exactly how I can help, what are the most effective ways to help’
Just a few days ago, Swift called out Donald Trump saying, ‘I really think that he thinks this is an autocracy.’
Swift revealed that back in 2016, had she spoken out about her political views she would have endorsed Hilary Clinton.
But with that in the past, ‘I can’t believe we’re here,’ she told the The Guardian.
‘It’s really shocking and awful. And I just wanna do everything I can for 2020. I wanna figure out exactly how I can help, what are the most effective ways to help.’
Big dance number: Taylor and Toderick made sure to bring their all to the big stage during the opening number
She added: ‘I mean, obviously, I’m pro-choice, and I just can’t believe this is happening.
‘I can’t believe we’re here. It’s really shocking and awful. And I just wanna do everything I can for 2020. I wanna figure out exactly how I can help, what are the most effective ways to help. ‘Cause this is just…’ she said. ‘This is not it.’
Opening attire: She wore a gold bustier leotard top with a pair of dark blue sparkly shorts that she later added a matching blazer over-top of
On stage at the VMAs she wore a custom Versace gold bustier metallic top with a pair of dark blue sparkly shorts that she later added a matching blazer over-top of.
Her gold Louboutin boots matched her number perfectly.
She finished off the number with numerous gold chunky necklaces and gold bracelets.
Performer: Taylor’s best friend Toderick Hall was right by her side as the opened the VMAs with her hit song, You need To Calm Down
After the showstopping number, the Cruel Summer singer walked to the front of the stage with her custom guitar that said ‘Lover’ on it as she performed the album’s leading track.
She performed solo as she sang the words to the romantic tune as her famous friends and fans in the audience such as Gigi Hadid and Camila Cabello sang every word.
The singer seemed elated as she performed the song for the first time in front of a large crowd just days after her seventh studio album was released.
Award winner: Taylor has already won one award of the evening. Taylor and all of her friends won for her music video for You Need to Calm Down
Swift’s performance seemed to give fans and views at home a more intimate feel as she sang the personal song.
She’s left the days of longing for a burning red kind of love singing this new powerful song just days after it was released.
The singer smiled and giggled throughout her performance as fans in the audience waved their hands and sang every word to the newly released song.
Graceful bow: Taylor bowed to the fans after her anticipated performance in which her friends and fans sang each word along with the star
Shortly after her performance, she had just enough time to change before winning one of the first awards of the evening.
Her music video for her song You Need To Calm Down won for Video for Good.
And in typical Taylor fashion, she let someone else take the spotlight. Her friend Toderick Hall, who co-executive produced the video, give thanks to the crowd for the special award.
Miss Americana: The pop sensation performed her new song Lover in front of the VMA crowd as she sported a blue sparkly blazer and matching shorts
Her looks for this new era have been full of pops of color and iconic as she phases out of the Reputation era.
For her red carpet look, she wore an embellished Versace blazer with the iconic black chains across the jacket.
The Grammy winner wore black thigh-high embellished boots and her signature red lipstick as she posed on the carpets before heading inside to open the show.
Carpet look: Taylor Swift opted for an embellished Versace look as she walked the red carpet ahead of her opening performance
Girl Squad: Gigi Hadid, Taylor Swift, Sandra ‘Pepa’ Denton, Halsey, and Bella Hadid smiled at the MTV VMA’s
