Swift speaking to her fans | Photo: Twitter @natnieIs
At a concert on her Reputation tour in Tampa, Florida, Taylor Swift acknowledged the year-mark of her sexual assault trial with an emotional speech to the audience.
Last year, Swift sued Denver radio DJ David Mueller of sexually assaulting her. She told Mueller’s bosses he groped her at a meet-and-greet event. When he lost his job, Mueller sued Swift for lying.
She counter-sued and the jury found in her favor. Further, she only requested $1 in damages.
‘A year ago I was not playing a sold-out stadium in Tampa,’ she said to the audience. ‘I was in a courtroom in Denver, Colorado. This is the day the jury sided in my favor and said that they believed me.’
Protect Taylor Swift at all costs pic.twitter.com/DouswxyOen
— natasha (@natnieIs) August 15, 2018
As she spoke, fans across the stadium cheered her on supportively.
‘We have so much further to go’
Swift continued: ‘I guess I just think about all the people that weren’t believed and the people who haven’t been believed, and the people who are afraid to speak up because they think they won’t be believed.’
It was an emotional moment for the singer as she recalled her own #MeToo struggle.
‘I just wanted to say I’m sorry to anyone who ever wasn’t believed because I don’t know what turn my life would have taken if somebody didn’t believe me when I said something had happened to me,’ she continued.
Swift has long been a vocal supporter of other female artists, while facing criticism of her own brand of feminism. While Kesha was in her legal battle with Dr. Luke, Swift donated $250,000 for legal expenses.
‘We have so much further to go, and I’m so grateful to you guys for being there for me [in] what was really a horrible part of my life,’ she finished.
‘You guys have seen me go through so many ups and downs in my life — just due to the public nature of the way my life is — and I just wanted to say that I’m so happy to see you and to have you and know you through the ups and downs in my life.’
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