By Delilah Fujita
Throughout their rise to stardom, Taylor Swift and Beyoncé have frequently been compared by fans, media, and the public. Although the two icons have competed for achievements and acknowledgments in the music industry, they have shared nothing but mutual respect, admiration, and displays of friendship. As these two prominent, leading forces of pop culture have gone on their record-breaking world tours, Beyoncé’s Renaissance and Taylor Swift’s The Eras, they have simultaneously continued to support one another.
The relationship between the two stars began in 2009 at the Video Music Awards. Taylor Swift, only nineteen at the time, was accepting the award for Best Female Video when Kanye West took to the stage, interrupting to declare that Beyoncé “had one of the best videos of all time,” leaving a crushed Taylor. Later on in the award show, Beyoncé, after winning Video of the Year for her hit song “All the Single Ladies,” brought Taylor Swift back on stage and gave her a chance to finish her speech. The respect and kindness Beyoncé displayed at this event was the foundation of their relationship, which has continued as Taylor Swift and Beyoncé have become powerhouse performers in the music industry.
Throughout this past year, Taylor and Beyoncé have dominated, becoming cultural forces who continue to inspire millions around the world. As fans dressed up for Beyoncé in silver with cowboy hats and boots, and Swifties got decked out as Taylor’s different albums, decorated with friendship bracelets, the two icon’s world tours have broken records, crashed Ticketmaster, generated millions of dollars, and boosted economies. Their support for one another has continued throughout the years through social media posts, attending each other’s birthday parties, shout-outs at speeches, and references in songs. Most recently, Beyoncé showed up to the premiere of Taylor Swift’s box office record breaking concert film on October 11. Throughout this all, Taylor and Beyoncé, the biggest names in the music industry, have developed a friendship that has continued as they shatter records, inspire millions around the world, and create incredible music.
LAMPLIGHTER 