Is Taylor Swift’s silent approach to negative headlines genius or will it backfire? PR experts weigh in

Is Taylor Swift’s quiet approach to negative headlines a stroke of genius or will it backfire?

A veteran PR expert has given his opinion exclusively to DailyMail.com on the Cruel Summer singer’s strategy, believing it to be a ‘smart’ and ‘effective’ stance that other celebrities could learn from.

The 34-year-old singer is known for always being careful with rumors and bad press.

She rarely speaks publicly about her breakups or feuds, instead dropping cryptic clues about them in her songs, lHer fans spread theories about the meaning of the lyrics.

But Jon Harris56, from Chicago, Illinois, who has worked in PR for more than 30 years, says Taylor’s silence allows her to “maintain control of the conversation and not allow the press to dictate her image.”

“I think Taylor Swift and her team are very smart about dealing with rumors,” he said.

‘You have to compliment her on not feeling like she has to respond immediately to everything that comes her way.

‘By remaining silent on these issues, she doesn’t give the press much to work with other than continued speculation.

‘She knows that if she were to respond to every rumor, she would only be adding fuel to the fire and increasing speculation.

“So overall she’s able to control the conversation and not let the press or anyone else dictate her image. Pretty smart, right?”

Jon added that Taylor’s subtle references to public dramas in her songs “work to her advantage” because it forces people to focus on “her art” while also giving her the opportunity to “share her side of the story in a creative and lasting way.”

“Rather than immediately respond to everything that is said or written about her and risk making matters worse, she prefers to wait and let things blow over so that people can focus on what is important: her art,” the communications expert continued.

‘Instead of making big public statements, she drops little hints in her songs or likes posts on social media.

“It’s a very understated, but effective way to respond without causing any additional drama.

‘And it keeps people in the dark, which, as we’ve all seen with our own eyes, continues to work to its advantage.

“It gives her a unique way to share her side of the story in a creative and lasting way. It’s much more meaningful than an X commentary or an interview.”

Taylor faced widespread criticism last week after she was spotted hugging girlfriend Brittany Mahomes at the US Open, just days after Patrick Mahomes’ wife showed her support for former President Donald Trump by liking a number of posts about him online.

At the time, Taylor remained tight-lipped about who she planned to vote for in the upcoming presidential election. Many social media users were outraged that she had not spoken out on the subject and was still openly dating Brittany.

However, days later, Taylor publicly endorsed her candidate Kamala Harris after the vice presidential debate with Trump on Tuesday night, a dramatic move that departs from her usual quiet approach.

Taylor also remained noticeably quiet after her best friend Blake Lively was in the news for the recent It Ends With Us drama.

Jon pointed out that when stars publicly respond to negative comments, their words can often be “misinterpreted.” Taylor’s approach solved a problem.

“Silence prevents things from escalating into an even bigger mess, as opposed to direct responses that only contribute to the story and create more gossip and speculation,” he added.

But Jon believes there are downsides to the hitmaker’s PR strategy, explaining that ‘silence can sometimes give the impression of guilt or evasion of responsibility.’

“This has the potential to cause reputational damage,” he warned. “You have to stay close to the situation in case the artist would benefit more by commenting.”

He also said that if you don’t pay attention to drama, “others get the chance to speak for you.”

“There is also a high potential for this to lead to misunderstandings and misinformation,” Jon adds.

Despite the risks, he said Taylor and her longtime publicist Tree Paine “have done an excellent job of managing her media and public relations.”

“Taylor’s strategic approach to image, particularly during high-profile ruptures, events and controversies, has been world-class,” he concluded.

Lindsay Lohan’s former publicist Steve Honig57, from New York, also gave his exclusive opinion on the subject to DailyMail.com. He said that while the quiet approach to bad press works for Taylor, it may not be a successful strategy for other stars.

He assumed it was only effective for the musician because of her immense “level of fame.”

‘[Its success depends on] “The level of fame of the celebrity and how loved they are by the public,” he said.

‘Generally speaking, the bigger the celebrity and the more popular they are, the better the quiet approach works.

It’s just like the bigger and better built a ship is, the better it can withstand the waves.

“For example, the ‘Taylor Swift boat’ can take a lot, so for her, keeping quiet about rumors and negative headlines is probably the right way to go.”

He added that it’s fine to keep quiet about a celebrity breakup or feud, but that certain controversies should always prompt a response — for example, if a star uses a “racist slur.”

“There are times when clarification, apology or action is needed, regardless of how big or beloved the celebrity is,” he said.

‘It’s also important to realize that responding to negative press often becomes a story in itself, creating even more negative attention.

‘A celebrity shouldn’t just respond, there should be a benefit attached to it.’