Tennis Pro Martina Navratilova Slams ‘Misogynistic’ Op-Ed About ‘Childless’ Taylor Swift
Tennis legend Martina Navratilova has a lot to say about a recent opinion piece regarding Taylor Swift.
“A massive pile of misogynistic bull,” Navratilova, 67, shared via social media on Sunday, along with a series of poop emojis. “This guy should be ashamed of himself and I can’t believe he writes for Newsweek … and they printed it. I mean …”
Newsweek caused a stir on Thursday after publishing an article that criticized Swift for being “not a good role model.” The author, John Mac Ghlionn, pointed out that Swift, 34, “remains unmarried and childless” despite her various public romances. (The publication updated the op-ed on Monday, but it’s unclear what changes were made.)
“A fact that some might argue is irrelevant to her status as a role model,” he continued. “But, I suggest, it’s crucial to consider what kind of example this sets for young girls.”
Related: Taylor Swift’s Biggest Controversies Through the Years
He further wrote: “While Swift’s musical talent and business acumen are certainly admirable, even laudable, we must ask if her personal life choices are ones we want our sisters and daughters to emulate.”
Ghlionn acknowledged that the piece might come across as “pearl-clutching preaching” (something Swift references on her Tortured Poets Department album) but insisted that his “concern [is] rooted in sound reasoning.”
He continued by discussing Swift’s high-profile dating history, referring to it as a “revolving door of relationships” and questioning what it implies about stability, commitment, and love itself.
Upon reading the piece, Swift’s fans — and other notable figures — took to social media to share their opinions. Along with Navratilova, author Kiran Manral criticized the op-ed via social media.
“Over the past week, I’ve seen a rash of vomit-inducing opinion pieces by male writers on Taylor Swift. Here’s the latest,” she wrote, calling out the publication by name. “You should be ashamed of yourself for carrying this crap.”
Related: Taylor Swift Through the Years
Manral highlighted the “barf-inducing” section of the article that discussed Swift’s dating life. “Let me go get my barf bag,” she concluded.
While Swift has not publicly responded to the article, she has previously spoken openly about the public’s fascination with her love life, notably in the album notes for 1989 (Taylor’s Version).
“It became clear to me that for me there was no such thing as casual dating. Or even having a male friend who you platonically hang out with. If I was seen with him, it was assumed I was sleeping with him,” she wrote alongside the rerecorded album, which was released in October 2023. “And so I swore off hanging out with guys. Dating, flirting or anything that could be weaponized against me by a culture that claimed to believe in liberating women but consistently treated me with the harsh moral codes of the Victorian era.”
