Taylor Swift has urged fans to show “kindness and gentleness” across the internet ahead of the release of Speak Now (Taylor’s Version).
The Grammy-winning singer made the comments during The Eras Tour in Minneapolis before singing her surprise song of the night Dear John, a song from her 2010 album which fans believe is about her relationship with John Mayer.
Over the weekend, Swift, who is currently re-recording her music after her masters were sold to Scooter Braun in 2019, said: “ââWhat I’m trying to say is I’m putting this album out because I want to own my own music.
“I’m not putting this album out so that you can defend me on the internet against someone you think I might have written a song about 14 million years ago.”
Although she didn’t mention Mayer by name, the Trouble hitmaker hinted at the relationship as she concluded her sentiments: “I’m 33 years old. I don’t care about anything that happened to me when I was 19.
“I do not care. We have all grown up. We’re good.”
Taylor Swift on the release of ‘Speak Now’ TV before performing ‘Dear John’:
— Pop Base (@PopBase) June 25, 2023
“I’m 33 years old, I don’t care about anything that happened to me when I was 19… I’m not putting this album out so you can go on the internet and defend me against someone you think I wrote a song… pic.twitter.com/cFQbKQk8vD
The former couple were believed to have started dating back in late 2009, when Swift was 19 and Mayer was 32.
However, it was reported that they parted ways in mid-2010, several months before Dear John was released in October of that same year.
In 2012, Mayer addressed reports that the song was about him, admitting he felt “humiliated” and “terrible”.
Speaking to Rolling Stone at the time, the American singer likened the track to “like the last email you would ever send to someone you used to be in a relationship with”.
Fans have long believed that Mayer’s 2013 song Paper Dolls was written in response to Swift’s 2010 hit.
Swift’s words comes after her fans previously targeted Jake Gyllenhaal when she released Red (Taylor’s Version).
It is believed that All Too Well (10 minute version) is about the Donnie Darko actor. The commentary got so bad, he was forced to turn off his Instagram comments as a result.
