How Taylor Swift reacted to Beyoncé topping Billboard’s greatest pop star chart after fans were left outraged
Taylor Swift ‘couldn’t be happier’ for Beyoncé after the music icon was crowned the biggest pop star of the 21st century by Billboard.
The publication caused a stir last week when it revealed that Swift, 34, had been placed at number two, a decision branded a “complete joke” by her devout ‘Swifties’.
But Swift harbors no ill will toward the mother of three, 43, who she has long seen as an “inspiration.”
“Taylor couldn’t be happier about this,” an insider told DailyMail.com. “Beyoncé has been supporting her since day one when Kanye tried to take her award away. At the time, Taylor was getting her start and Beyoncé was already a huge superstar.”
The pair have had a long friendship since crossing paths at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards, where Kanye West interrupted Swift as she accepted an award.
In the years since, they have spent time together privately, with Swift recently describing Beyoncé as a “guiding light” during her meteoric rise to pop superstardom.
Taylor Swift ‘couldn’t be happier’ for Beyoncé after the music icon was crowned the biggest pop star of the 21st century by Billboard
“Since the VMAs, Taylor has looked to Beyoncé for inspiration,” the insider continued. “She knows she’s been in this game longer and has had a huge impact.”
Fans hoping for a collaboration between the two biggest women in pop are in luck, and neither party is ruling out the possibility.
“She’s not opposed to working with her one day,” the source added. ‘The two are close and in constant contact.’
In response to the online backlash Billboard received from Swift’s extremely passionate fanbase, the source added, “While she’s flattered that her fans are upset because they think she should be number one, Taylor is humbled by the fact that she built an empire.’
Billboard predicted that the controversy would “rip through the internet because she was just a small box below No. 1,” something they described as “further proof of her power.”
They also reminded readers that Swift got a “much later” start in the millennium, both in terms of “the genre and music in general.”
Still, as expected, Swifties were outraged by the editorial decision of the Billboard staff, who took on the difficult task of ranking the top 25 biggest pop stars of the 21st century.
Under the announcement on Instagram, a number of Swift fans expressed their outrage, calling the list a ‘joke’ and insisting the Fortnight hitmaker had been ‘robbed’.
The outlet caused a stir last week when it revealed that Swift, 34, had been placed at number two, a decision that was branded a “complete joke” by her devout “Swifties,” which erupted in outrage
An insider revealed: ‘Since the VMAs, Taylor has been looking to Beyoncé for inspiration. She knows she has been in this game longer and has had a huge influence.”
“This is pathetic and REALLY should be corrected,” said one person. ‘Who approved this list? First of all, your bs lists are always incredibly inaccurate.”
Another wrote: ‘She deserved number 1, don’t even lie, she’s the greatest artist of all time, not just of the century.’
Beyoncé won the honor “based on her entire 25 years of influence, evolution and impact,” according to Billboard, despite Swift being “by numbers the biggest pop star of the century.”
Beyoncé and Swift have shown nothing but love and support to each other in public.
It started on the night when West humiliated Swift by interrupting her winners speech at VMAs and claiming Beyoncé’s Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It) should have won Best Female Video on Swift’s You Belong With Me.
His rude comments were met with gasps from the audience as the camera panned to an mortified Beyoncé.
When she was rewarded later, she called Swift back up to finish her speech and “have her moment.”
In a video interview with reporters after the show, Swift responded to Beyoncé’s kind gesture, saying, “She’s always just been a wonderful person.” To the talented artist, the superstar, she was always a wonderful person. And I just thought I couldn’t love Beyoncé anymore… and then it happened tonight and it was just amazing.”
Beyoncé and Swift’s bond formed unexpectedly after Kanye West stormed the stage at the 2009 MTV VMAs and interrupted Swift’s acceptance speech
In the years since, the pair have spent time together privately, with Swift claiming Beyoncé has been a “guiding light” throughout her career
In 2014, Beyoncé and her rap mogul husband Jay Z attended Swift’s 25th birthday party – with the couple dancing the night away at her New York City home.
A few days after the birthday celebration, the two women attended Justin Timberlake’s 20/20 Experience Tour at the Barclays Center.
The following year, Swift spoke about Beyoncé in a British radio interview with Kiss FM, saying, “I love her more than usual… I’m trying my best to avoid letting (my fandom) get creepy.
“I just really enjoy channeling it into a joyful admiration and appreciation.”
After many years of the pair exchanging friendly hugs and catching up at awards shows, Swift then took the time to wish Beyoncé a happy 40th birthday in September 2021.
The Red singer joined a slew of other celebrities in recognizing the birthday boy on reaching the huge milestone.
In a video she said, “The fact that you paved the path that every female artist walks today.
“The fact that you did this with such kindness and such grace.” She then added, “To say I admire you, there’s just no word for it.”
Beyoncé proudly supported Swift at the premiere of her Eras Tour concert film in Los Angeles in October 2023
Months later, Swift repaid the favor when she flew to London for the premiere of the Renaissance film
That same year, Swift’s Folklore won the Grammy for album of the year and Beyoncé had nothing but praise for the star.
Swift revealed that she received a beautiful bouquet of congratulatory flowers with a note that read, “Taylor, congratulations on your GRAMMY. It was nice seeing you Sunday evening.
“Thank you for always being so supportive. Sending love to you and your family. B.’
The pair showed off their friendship again in 2023 when they released feature films about their tours, The Eras World Tour and the Renaissance World Tour.
First, Beyoncé attended the Eras Tour premiere, and Swift took to Instagram shortly after the big event to pay tribute to her idol.
In a boomerang, Swift and Beyoncé sat side by side in the theater and shared a bowl of popcorn that Beyoncé playfully tossed into the air.
In the caption, Swift says, “I’m so glad I’ll never know what my life would have been like without @beyonce’s influence.
“The way she taught me and every artist here to break rules and defy industry norms.
‘Her generosity of spirit. Her resilience and versatility. She has been a guiding light throughout my career and the fact that she showed up tonight was like a real fairytale.”
Months later, Swift repaid the favor when she flew to London for the premiere of the Renaissance film.
The singers were seen smiling as they posed arm in arm in front of the poster for the film.
Swift shared the photo on Instagram and Twitter with the adorable caption: “I’ve been invited to London by the Queen!”