Taylor Swift unveiled her darker side in her revenge-seeking new music video, laced with fun jibes at both herself and her contemporaries.
The star’s feisty song Look What You Made Me Do was released on Friday and is believed to be a diss track aimed at the likes of her reported foes Kanye West and Katy Perry. The video was debuted at the MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday.
The highly stylised clip begins with Swift dressed as a zombie climbing out of a grave topped with a headstone reading “Here lies Taylor Swift’s reputation”.
She appears to poke fun at her relationship with former partner Tom Hiddleston as her backing dancers wear tops emblazoned with “I (heart) TS”, referencing a much-mocked vest the British actor was pictured wearing last year.
The video culminates in different iterations of her ‘former’ self, from music videos and performances, falling down into the abyss.
One Swift says to a crying version of herself: “There she goes, playing the victim – again.”
The pop star also mocks the moment West crashed the stage as she gave an acceptance speech during the MTV VMAs in 2009.
Wearing the same outfit, Swift repeats words used in a statement given last year in response to a feud with the rapper: “I would very much like to be excluded from this narrative.”
Viewers enjoyed the video, with one writing on Twitter that “no on can roast Taylor Swift better than Taylor Swift herself”.
Another said: “This is the best version of Taylor Swift we’ve ever seen. And all of her past versions had been amazing.”
One excited fan wrote: “Taylor Swift playing Taylor Swifts dragging Taylor Swifts in one of the most epic videos of all time. Yeah, she’s won.”
No one can roast Taylor Swift better than Taylor Swift herself. pic.twitter.com/HYXZ8EKCT3#LWYMMDvideo#PushAwardsTeamKisses
— ? (@tayswiftloveyaa) August 28, 2017
This is the best version of Taylor Swift we’ve ever seen. And all of her past versions had been amazing.
— vicky (@IKTayWT) August 28, 2017
TAYLOR SWIFT PLAYING TAYLOR SWIFTS DRAGGING TAYLOR SWIFTS IN ONE OF THE MOST EPIC VIDEOS OF ALL TIME.
YEAH, SHE’S WON. #LWYMMDvideo #VMAs
— Alex Goldschmidt (@alexandergold) August 28, 2017
For some, the symbolism in the video had them working hard.
One person said: “Taylor Swift got me dissecting metaphors and imagery like I haven’t done since my book report on To Kill A Mockingbird in 9th grade.”
“I watched the video for Taylor Swift’s new single. Am quite confident that every frame is laden with meaning that I don’t get,” another added.
Taylor Swift got me dissecting metaphors and imagery like I haven’t done since my book report on To Kill A Mockingbird in 9th grade
— Kalie Shorr (@kalieshorr) August 28, 2017
I watched the video for Taylor Swift’s new single. Am quite confident that every frame is laden with meaning that I don’t get.
— dellowhockey (@dellowhockey) August 28, 2017
Swift’s Look What You Made Me Do is the first track from her forthcoming album Reputation, set for release in November.
The release of the track and video came after Swift wiped her social media channels last week before sharing cryptic videos of snakes on her pages.
