Taylor Swift Appointed New Ambassador For Big Apple, New Yorkers 'Insulted'
Taylor Swift has made quite an impression in New York. She's just been hailed as the "Global Welcome Ambassador for the Big Apple" by NYC Go. However, it seems that New Yorkers are not too keen about the title.
The singer herself announced her new role in ABC's "Good Morning America," and said she's still in the learning process. "I'm still learning, but I'm so enthusiastic about this city that when I love something, I'm very vocal about it," she said. The title has been given to the "Shake It Off" singer just months after she decided to live in New York, in March, specifically.
She already made several tourism videos in collaboration with NYC & Company, which is the city's official marketing and tourism organisation. In the videos, Taylor can be seen gushing about New York. She talks of the little quirks that New Yorkers have, such as picking out their favourite "little neighbourhoods" and getting to know the people in these neighbourhoods. She also talks of "bodegas," which are corner stores open 24/7. She talks of stoops and what they are in New York. She also shares that New Yorkers in general have god manners, unique to them only.
This assignment comes in conjunction with her latest single, "Welcome to New York." In fact, the song is used as the background music to the tourism videos.
While Taylor Swift is happy with the campaign and her big role, New Yorkers are not as pleased. Some of them reportedly even felt "insulted" with the decision to choose a city newcomer who they feel do not truly know anything about New York.
The NYC Go Facebook page was flooded with negative reactions, Mail Online UK reports. "Taylor Swift has nothing to do with NYC, she is a bad representation. Get a real NY'er instead," wrote Ilana Vickers, a New Yorker. Another poster called the decision "ridiculous."
"Twisted Sister" singer Dee Snider shared to New York Daily News that it's insulting. He claims that Taylor Swift does not have life experiences in the vibrant city and claims that there are so many popular figures that could have represented the city. For him, Taylor Swift is just a "pop culture queen" who moved into town.