One of my favorite gossip stories from the Glorious Tiddlebanging Era (summer 2016) was that Taylor seemingly moved on from Calvin Harris to Tom Hiddleston in the span of, like, a week. It was really sudden, and I’m still not entirely convinced that there wasn’t some overlap between “the end of Calvin” and “the start of Tiddles.” When people started examining the timeline, there were some comments about how Tay-Tay moved on from Calvin way too fast. Which brings me to one of my favorite stories: Amber Rose stood up and defended Taylor. Amber told the Daily Beast that summer that she respected the hell out of Taylor’s “on to the next” vibe and, “I feel like guys do that all the time—they break up and the next day they’re with another girl and nobody really says anything. But with Taylor it’s… it is because it’s unheard of, and she’s acting very ‘slutty’ and for some reason needs time to ‘let her p–sy rest.’”
For what it’s worth, it’s not a one-sided thing, Amber and Taylor’s friendship. Amber’s son Sebastian is a huge T-Swift fan, and when he got bullied online for being a Tay fan, Taylor sent him (and Amber and Wiz Khalifa) VIP tickets to her Reputation concert. While Taylor has never said anything publicly to or about Amber, they do seem to have some kind of friendship happening. So much so that Amber wants you to know that she and Tay are like snake twins.
Amber Rose and Taylor Swift have more in common than they may have realized.
“My son really made me a fan [of Swift],” she said on Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag’s podcast, “Make Speidi Famous Again.”
“I actually started listening to her music, and I’m like, ‘Taylor’s f–king dope, bro.’ This bitch can write and sing — and the words! I’m like, ‘I can relate to her.’ I’ve been slut-shamed all over the place. Everyone’s like, ‘You can’t keep a man. You’re this and that.’ All the tabloids, you know, ‘Here goes Amber playing the victim again.’ I’m like, ‘Dude! She’s my f–king twin!’ And I got bullied by Kanye [West] as well! Like, bro, we literally live the same life!”
“This bitch can write and sing — and the words!” Ruh-roh. You know how Taylor feels about being called a “bitch,” don’t we? What’s that? She doesn’t mind just as long as the person saying it is trying to compliment her? Who knows? As for the argument Amber makes… is she the same as Taylor? Or is that Taylor’s particular genius is being so bland, generic, apolitical and blank-slate-ish that every girl and woman thinks they can relate to her?
Oh, and I almost didn’t see this! Amber has a theory about Beyonce’s “Becky with the good hair” lyric. Amber said: “I definitely think that Gwyneth Paltrow is ‘Becky with the good hair.’ I really feel like she’s the one who was, like, f—ing Jay-Z. [Gwyneth and Beyonce] were like friends, and then, like, you don’t see Gwyneth Paltrow with Beyoncé anymore. But like Beyoncé’s still with Jay.” See, I find that theory VERY interesting, except I know it’s bullsh-t because… Gwyneth does not have good hair. Beyonce would have seen Goop’s straw-head up close and there’s no way that Beyonce would ever claim that Gwyneth – who is absolutely a Becky – would or could have good hair. Gwyneth’s rep actually denied this!!
Photos courtesy of WENN, Backgrid.
I get that Taylor can write catchy, generic songs. But she is not a bad ass. She does not write meaningful songs. I think Taylor’s genius is that she’s so nice to other celebrities and her fans (if it’s fake or not), that people just like to compliment her. This is why we’re getting comments like this. Because she was super sweet to Amber’s son.
Eh…I’ll bite there. Some of her songs are fun and catchy, but I do legitimately think she has some beautifully written and thoughtful songs in her discography. They’re commercial, sure, but they still show a decently talented level of lyricism. She’s no Leonard Cohen, but she’s not at Britney Spears “Slave 4 U” level, either. There are plenty of things to criticize about her that I’m not going to devalue her strongest contribution to her records.
Honestly, I love a song that tells a story…so many of today’s songs are just noisy, repetitive rubbish. Taylor has written (and co-written) some clever lyrics. And most people can relate to relationship angst…you’re generally either “there” or “been there”.
That said- I get that she’s no Harry Chapin, but she definitely writes a story…which is enjoyable for a lot of listeners.
Pretty much 95% of Top 40 music out there today is GARBAGE, poorly written, auto tuned CRAP. I will give Taylor all the credit in at least telling a story in her songs. She may not be able to sing and she may be generic but at least there is a story and at least the songs are written like songs – story – chorus – story – chorus instead of repeated lyrics over and over again.
I don’t like her songs, at least what i heard which isn’t a lot. But overall maybe she is trying to be a good person.
I can see goop as Becky. Good hair is obviously sarcasm. Goop Z. Goop got some Zed. Bey should just kick his behind either way.
Honestly, i think songwriting is general is given way too little respect for how hard it really is. You’re not just writing lyrics – you have to come up with a multi-layered beat for it to play over, and they have to work together rhythmically. Even good pop songs with more superficial lyrics take a decent amount of skill to turn into hits. Creating a hook that gets picked up by the public at large and remains memorable years later is a feat in itself. A lot of what we hear on the radio is garbage precisely because good song writing is not easy. They’re relying on the catchy beat to pick up people’s attention long enough to make a little money.
Amber has a difficult background so she’s latching onto something she thinks is there but isn’t actually there. I felt sorry for her after reading this.
I don’t care about GP or B. They’re both rich self made strong women. Their relationship isn’t gossip fodder because they don’t want it to be and I respect that.
Gwyneth Paltrow- self made?!
Hahahahaha ha ha
Sorry but Taylor is way more self made than Goop is.
Gwyneth Paltrow- self made?!
Hahahahaha ha ha
Sorry but Taylor is way more self made than Goop is.
Agree with Wendy.
Goopy has done nothing BUT cash in on her pedigree. She was a horrible bullying asshole at Spence and has always felt entitled. She didn’t self make anything. Taylor isn’t either.
They used their giant leg ups and worked it but without those connections, I am not so sure either of them would be famous now.
It is easy to be strong and successful when there is no risk involved. The big ole stack of diamond encrusted, gold dusted, cashmere woven safety nets has always there to catch them if they fell. They were born with options.
Amber works my last nerve with her attention seeking but she IS self made.
I am not trying to come down you. Sincerely I am not. But this narrative about these two women irks me.
It is not easy to become as powerful as Swift has in the entertainment industry. Her songs are catchy and she has sold millions of records. Being a female in a mans world makes her a bad ass.
The video of Amber’s son enjoying Taylor’s concert are still one of the cutest things ever. I love that both of his parents have no problem with his obsession with Taylor, it’s cute
I have heard the Jay-Z/GP theories before…I find them amusing if nothing else.
The Jay-Z + Gwyneth hook up theory doesn’t seem totally implausible given that the two couples apparently used to hang out quite a bit in 2012/13. I remember loads of cosy pictures of them all together at the time, but that since fell off. I remember this Blind Item about it:
http://www.crazydaysandnights.net/2014/04/blind-items-revealed_232.html
And this got me thinking about Gwyneth’s idiotic N***as in Paris tweet during that period:
http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/music_box/2012/06/gwyneth_paltrow_and_niggas_in_paris_is_it_ever_ok_for_white_people_to_use_the_word_.html
Gwyneth’s tweet was the first thing I thought of, ugh
Gwyneth was very tight with them until at least a couple of years ago, and may possibly still be (but just under more social media lockdown). But the Carter and Paltrow/Martin households were very close for a long time.
Thanks for taking us into the way back machine, TQ. It was fun, but I still feel icky, lol!
Gwenyth was all about letting the world know she and Beyonce were BFFs, and then…nothing.
I think something happened and the friendship is kaput, but I don’t think she’s Becky.
I agree, don’t think she’s Becky. Beyonce and Gwyneth were still tight during Chris Martin’s Super Bowl show, and that was only a couple of years ago. Either Beyonce asked her to go radio silent on the subject, or the friendship is over.
It isn’t implausible to me either.
Weren’t they all close when Gwyneth and Chris were still together? Maybe they just stopped spending as much time together just as a side effect of the “uncoupling” and when she “recoupled” with another dude – more time spent with new guy, less time for friends, friends really liked double dating with the old couple but maybe Jay and new guy don’t get along as well, Beyoncé having new babies, planning world domination, etc. Mundane stuff.
Right? I’m over here working through the psychology, picturing GP fetishizing Jay and assuming he would be interested in her white “high-class” ass, and this actually makes some (awful) sense in my mind. It’s deeply messed up.
I need to read less stories about awful people.
To be clear: I’m not even remotely suggesting this happened. Just that the theory is… fascinating but awful.
Can I ask why you used the word “fetishizing”? Is it bc he’s black and she’s white?
Hey Amanduh-
Specifically, I was referencing that as opposed to being attracted to the person, she might be attracted to the implications of being with a black man (similar to how some men fetishize Sterotypical characteristics of Asian women instead of being attracted to the person specifically.)
We don’t know any of these people, so I have no real opinion, just that with G’s life experience, that could be a theory.
Obviously this has all been shut down by Huvane.
Its not that likely she is intersted in Jay based on his body and face and I dont think he likes them bony either. Fetishizing happens a lot still. So many white women find it degrading and thats why they do it. Its insanely racist.
Thanks for that!!
I was totally just wondering as I used to LOVE Method Man and was worried I (white girl from rural Canada) fetishized him…just something about his eyes, his music and his swagger?
@Queen: what do they find degrading?! Sex with a black man? Why?
Geeze, I must be sheltered!
I’m not invested enough to do some real Googling (sorry! lol) but I saw something yesterday that said that Gwyneth was with Blue Ivy during Beyonce’s Superbowl performance so they were still cool even after
I remember Goop instagramming her kids hanging out with little Blue Ivy around that Superbowl and rolling my eyes. She was just a toddler and Goop’s kids were much older.
I also remember her introducing Beyonce at the Grammys back in the day as “my dear friend Beyonce Knowles Carter.” Ugh, always with the pretentiousness.
But in the past few years….silence. It is fascinating. Maybe she is Becky. Or maybe Beyonce just got sick of her.
Yeah, I remember that too, a pic of Gwyneth w/ Blue Ivy, so I don’t think she’s Becky.
GP grew up incredibly privileged, and I can absolutely see her fetishizing Jay and being that Becky. Also, “good hair” only means straight hair, not that It’s actually healthy and pretty necessarily. It’s a sad legacy of white supremacist beauty standards in the Black community.
Um, “good hair” doesn’t mean straight hair in the black community nor is the term usually applied to nonblack people. I hate that this term has been completely misunderstand and misreported by the largely white press. “Good hair” usually refers to wavy and curly hair that’s not coarse and afro-y. Many mixed-race black people are said to have “good hair,” but not all of them necessarily have this hair type. It was never used for white people but for black people with looser curls than your average black person.
Gwyneth was still hanging out with Beyoncé when Formation came out. She was seen with Blue Ivy in the stands at the Superbowl when Coldplay and Beyoncé shared the half-time show. I doubt Gwyneth is Becky.
I wouldn’t call her hair good, looks fried and dead most of the time
Goop is more like Becky with the Dry Hair.
And now I’m hearing Beyonce singing: “Becky with the dry hair.”
Maybe it’s a joke because she doesn’t have good hair at all…???
Hahahahahahahahaha!
Having Taylor as your twin is not a good look. Taylor though loves people that look like her. See Karlie, see Joe.
And they both use feminism to further their own agenda. And Kanye is their claim to fame. Totally twinsies!!!!
Nope. While Taylor Swift definitely has a history of using feminism but then being afraid to speak out against Trump (and the violence against women, misogyny, and white supremacy Trump’s presidency represents), the same can’t be said about Amber Rose. She is actually a feminist. She just isn’t fucking with respectability politics. Being classy doesn’t make you a feminist. Many of the women who voted for Trump, as a matter of fact, are women who think their compliance with respectability politics elevates them over other women .
And this, kids, is a master class in how to get people to click on an article about you that they otherwise would have no interest in. Reference boring blonde chicks and BAM! Coverage.
I know. I guess we are supposed to make connections between how Amber likes Taylor who has beef with Kanye who Kim…whatever. When someone is at 14 minutes and 39 seconds on their fame clock they drop bigger click baity names.
I think I’m the only one here who adores Taylor, she’s smart and super talented and while not the best singer she has improved so much. Her tour this time is fantastic and she’s still the same lovely person to her fans. I got rep room in Seattle and she was so sweet to me .
And I’m 34 so I’m much older than her normal fan base.
Me too! 27 years old here, been a fan since 2008
I don’t mind her. Not really a fan but she worked hard and made a success of herself. As far as her “mean girling” other singers/actors/models/whatever, they are all rich celebrities who aren’t exactly suffering. Drama is PR to these people.
I actually like both Taylor and Gwyneth. Both have steely resolve in the industry and get a lot thrown their way for not doing much wrong. Taylor writes pop music (so what, it’s still needed in the industry) and Gwyneth is a health nut (but I’ve always liked her as an actress especially in Sliding Doors and The Talented Mr Ripley.) Neither women deserve the rampant hatred they get in my opinion. It’s totally undeserved.
Yes! What has Taylor done to get some much hate? I really don’t get it at all . I know I won’t because I’m a huge fan but the hate she gets is out of preporton to anything she down .
Not gonna say she’s not problematic sometimes and I do wish she’d speak out on issues and not be worried about the damage to her image .
Taylor got a lot of love in the general public/press up til a few discontented murmurings during her 1989 tour (when she and her team managed press by strong arming reporters into giving her positive coverage. Reporters that didn’t give the Taylor brand stellar coverage were no longer permitted previously approved access, while the ones that’s did had many doors opened for them.)
With a lot of love comes the potential for a lot of backlash, and opportunity occurred when Kim released the Kanye-Taylor taped conversation. The people in the press that Taylor and her team offended were already waiting for the chance to take some professional potshots, as they felt like they had previously been silenced by the existing power dynamic.
As for Taylor’s silence about white nationalists using her name for their movement, what this sub often criticizes Taylor for, that sends a message that honestly feels threatening to many people. It’s terrifying when you were never implicitly accepted as an American in spite of having the protection of citizenship because of your race, and now it feels like America’s biggest pop star and her large fan base may have always felt the same way about you too. And you know that even if Taylor doesn’t personally feel that way, she is careful to be inoffensive to and legitimizes people who do. I was a fan of how she managed her brand until things like this.
@angie
I know you said that you also wish she didn’t do these things, and I know many others are critical of Taylor’s image for other reasons ranging from legitimate to irrational. But re: how Taylor gets so much hate, the scope of how you perceive Taylor’s line on social issues affects your life is probably the difference between disapproving of her stance but remaining a fan vs being a former fan who is now afraid and critical of Taylor’s branding.
While I was mostly more of a fan of Taylor’s business end, I had a couple friends who were ardent fans of her product but stopped supporting her because of her stance on social issues. Sometimes disappointment can also seem like hate.
@Boo Peep.
That has been my problem with Taylor too. I have never been a fan but found her ok. I liked that she liked animals and seemed harmless enough. Her refusal to repudiate the alt-right and go after small bloggers means I actively dislike her now. Maybe for people who aren’t minorities, this seems strange but for those of us who feel threatened (because we are) by a segment of her fanbase, it is no small thing. It is political climate with racists and bigots feeling emboldened, her silence is deafening. We don’t have the privilege to ignore it.
« Good Hair » doesn’t mean « nice hair ».
Came in to post the same.
I went to Taylor’s concert last week. I do have a rather difficult relationship with her, but I love her music, so I went with some friends. I remember thinking during the show that when you’re there and she’s addressing the audience in such a sweet, genuine way, you forget all the other noise surrounding her.
Problem is, while she might be lovely to fans and friends, she IS also responsible for all that other drama. She’s always the one stirring the pot, always the one holding on to petty grudges years after the fact and the one openly mocking people in her songs. It’s why it’s so hard to me to like her fully — I love her music, and sometimes I love her. But then I remember all this other BS and I can’t support that.
As for the Calvin/Tom timeline, it gets even more complicated when you consider she also met her current BF at the Met Gala. With all the time she spends worrying about her image you’d think she’d create a better timeline for herself, but it’s all kinds of shady.
You know it’s always frustraing ans vaguely amusing when black artists use terms that have existed within the black community for decades in their music. Because what generally winds up happening is the the majority – i.e, white people – don’t actually UNDERSTAND the term.
The term “Becky with the good hair” was NEVER about a white woman. It is a term used for black women with what is considered in the black community to be “good hair”. It is very specific. So no – Beyoncé was not talking about Gwyneth f-cking Paltrow. Or any other white chick. She was being damn specific with that line. Becky with good hair was a sister! Or at the very least – a WOC.
PS – Amber Rose mentioned this because she knew everyone would all be talking about it. It’s a great way to try to stay relevant by inserting yourself in bigger stars’ business.
Woc don’t use the term good hair when talking about white women. Ever.
Exactly.
Exactly, and the implications of that is truly sad.
Yeah EA i heard other terms for white women growing up
Which makes it even more likely Amber was looking for a headline.
I am an unapologetic 39 year old forever fan of Taylor Swift ❤
I’m 40 and I’m in the same boat. I give her personality and personal life and her childishness shade but I do love her music!
Gwyneth’s hairstyle is looking tired AF these days. For all her cleanses and diets she’s not aging well, especially her skin, and the long flat-ironed hair just highlights that. I remember like 10 years ago when she cut her hair in a long, wavy bob, that looked so much better.
That’s what’s so ironic about her dispensing advice. Initially, she gives off the aura of being a blonde princess. The longer you look, though, you see her skin is fried, her hair is dated and usually fried (although in this pic it looks a little healthier), her posture is terrible. She’s a smug pampered college dropout.
She smokes and over exercises. Tracy Anderson looks the same. Neither of them look healthy.
I agree, if it were Becky with worst hair, I could buy it’s Gwyneth. I am sure Goop wishes she had food hair.
Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag’s podcast, “Make Speidi Famous Again.”
ANOTHER SIGN OF THE IMPENDING APOCALYPSE
? Nice try.
I love that the primary response to this isn’t, “Gwenyth would never do that to a friend!” but “Gwenyth’s hair is not remotely good enough to be Becky,” lol.
LMAO that was actually my first thought when I heard about Amber Rose’s remarks – no way is she Becky, because that hair is crap.
“Gwyneth Paltrow” and “good hair” should never be allowed in the same sentence.
My question is, what the hell did Amber do to her face? It looks very different in these pictures.
For any women of colour, she has ‘nice’ ‘good’, hair, sad enough. Straight and blonde.
OMG, #Amber is on to something.
Why would her rep. deny it, and just not comment, about it?
Suspicious, Me think
Please do not try to speak for women of color, unless it’s just for yourself. Nice hair is not straight and blonde. Lol! Are you serious?
Sorry but Gwyneth does have good hair- bithcy comments about straw are so 1974 losers!
AND I am NO Goop fan.
The politics and discussion of hair on this website is endlessly interesting to me lmao. I think it goes without saying, but “good hair” in the context of the song is hair that isn’t kinky (3c & above, iirc, but I could be wrong). So yeah, Gwyneth’s hair is a frizzy mess, sure, but she is the definition of “Becky with the good hair” especially if that line is supposed to be about a white girl (which Gwyneth definitely is).
Becky would mean white wouldn’t it. Play on words by Beyonce maybe?
“You know how Taylor feels about being called a “bitch,” don’t we? What’s that? She doesn’t mind just as long as the person saying it is trying to compliment her? Who knows?”
Personally, I don’t mind when my girlfriends call me a bitch, because we know each other and we know where we’re coming from, and it’s usually all in good fun. But a man calling me a bitch has an entirely different tenor to it, and it’s way more likely to be a slur. So yeah, there is a difference IMO.
Where’s the amber tamblin story? As the only white cia gendered feminist blog I read I had expected a lot more how disappointing so far…so she’s right?!or nah
I have read many blinds that Goop did Jay. Poor Beyonce’. When is she going to grow a backbone and leave? Maybe she’s scared. Google Jay Z and Cathy White.
Becky is DEFINITELY Rachel Roy. Beyonce wouldn’t have GP essentially babysitting her kid at the Superbowl if Amber’s theory was right. The Carters don’t socialize with the West’s because Kim is friends with RR. RR is persona non grata in Beyonce’s orbit. Jay Z had a thing for anyone or anything belonging to Damon Dash.
Songwriter Diana Gordon wrote the majority of that song and the line Becky with the good hair lyrics, and brought the song to Beyonce to work together on.
Diana Gordon, blowing off the rumors, said the line was written about no one in particular.
I know. Becky with the good hair is a euphemism and not an exact description of Jay Z’s mistress. All I’m saying is it’s not Goop. It’s Rachel Roy. Also, Diana Gordon is putting out new music & I’m interested to hear it. She co wrote my favorite track on Lemonade & I think she’s extremely talented.
On the word bitch: I feel like it is okay if a woman uses it with or about another woman, especially if it’s not used negatively. Don’t use it if you’re a man.
But “good hair” is straight hair and Goop definitely has that. I like her theory and can definitely see Goop being so backstabbing as to f-ck her “bestie’s” man. This is SO her. I now firmly believe it. Like the cat who ate the cream. I really like some of Taylor’s songs A LOT. The new one is really good and also some others (the one she wrote about John Mayer and the one she wrote and then Calvin Harris tried to pretend it was all his). I respect the hell out of Amber and I think she’s gorgeous and a good person. Rock on, Amber.
While I believe the Goop/Jay theory, I do not agree with you about straight hair being good hair. Black women who wear weave go for Malaysian, Brazilian, Indian and Peruvian. Which of those is naturally straight? plus Rachel Roy is of Indian descent, which is why some people think it it a better fit. NO ONE see’s Goop’s hair and think “good hair”. No one.
Okay, I’ll just say it. I’m not a dude, but I’ll put on my dude hat…if I were a man, I wouldn’t find Fishticks cute, pretty, sexy or bangable (sorry, I accidentally donned my douche bro hat); however, I would find Beyonce all of the above!
I have a hard time believing Taylor is friends with Amber. FRIENDLY maybe, but not friends. Amber is way too outspoken, liberal, and fabulous to be a friend of Swifty’s. Swifty friends are basic. As far as GP and Jay…that is a very odd pairing and I don’t see it. “Becky with the good hair” is probably several women he has had affairs with and we will never really know who.
Amber’s podcasting partner is a brilliant and beautiful person.
Wish Taylor would get back with Tom. They were perfect for each other. You can really tell he loved her.