Taylor Swift Private Jet Environment memes depicting the singer standing in front of an airplane.

Taylor Swift's Private Jet Emissions Controversy

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Updated Feb 07, 2024 at 12:41PM EST by Owen.

Added Jul 30, 2022 at 02:01PM EDT by Owen.

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About

Taylor Swift's Private Jet Emissions Controversy refers to a controversy and leak of information that American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift allegedly produces more carbon emissions than any other celebrity in 2022, amassing to roughly 8,200 tonnes. This is due to unnecessary plane rides that Swift allegedly takes in her private jet. After the information surfaced in an op-ed article and then on Twitter, Swift was labeled as a hypocrite given her "climate change awareness" public persona. The discovery led to memes, similar in nature to memetic discourse regarding Kyle Jenner's Three-Minute Flights. It was also met with skepticism by people who thought the data was unfounded. In 2024, Taylor Swift's attorneys threatened legal action against Jack Sweeney, the admin of the flight tracker account Celeb Jets, who'd been previously banned on Twitter / X for his ElonJet account.

History

On July 25th, 2022, news outlet The Tab[1] published an article titled, "The celebs who have racked up the most CO2 emissions this year using their private jets," most likely inspired by prior discussion regarding Kylie Jenner's private jet controversy. The Tab's list ranked the top 10 celebrity "climate criminals" and their overall carbon emissions in tonnes over the course of 2022 thus far:

10. Travis Scott (3,033.3 tonnes)
9. Oprah Winfrey (3,493.17 tonnes)
8. Mark Wahlberg (3,772.85 tonnes)
7. Kim Kardashian (4,268.5 tonnes)
6. Steven Spielberg (4,465 tonnes)
5. Blake Shelton (4,495 tonnes)
4. Aaron Rodriguez a.k.a. A-Rod (5,342.7 tonnes)
3. Jay-Z (6,981.3 tonnes)
2. Floyd Mayweather (7,076.8 tonnes)
1. Taylor Swift (8,293.54 tonnes)

Reactions

On July 29th, 2022, Twitter[2] user yslonika tweeted two screenshots from The Tab's article, displaying Swift as the number one climate offender on the list. The tweet received roughly 45,600 likes in three days (shown below, left). Twitter user yslonika started a thread underneath their tweet with the first reply[3] attaching another screenshot of Swift's section with more information. The reply received roughly 12,200 likes in the same amount of time (shown below, right).


ICON welp. @yslonika oh wow... HE TAB UK ✓ orth WRITE TIPS The celebs who have racked up the nost CO2 emissions this year using heir private jets hocker, Kylie Jenner isn't even in the top 10 5:25 AM. Jul 29, 2022. Twitter for iPhone : ICON welp. @yslonika W--.... Taking the number one spot, is the wholesome queen Taylor Swift. Shockingly, Taylor has created more carbon emissions than other celebrity at 8,293 tonnes. Pollution (Taylor's version). Racking up a total of 170 flights on her private jet since January, Taylor has amassed a vast 22,923 minutes in the air, or 15.9 days. Considering that she is not currently touring, this is a huge amount. Taylor's average flight time is 80 minutes with an average of 139.36 miles per flight. 5:31 AM Jul 29, 2022 · Twitter for iPhone

Later on July 29th, Twitter[4] user BesDMarx also tweeted screenshots of The Tab's article, captioning them, "taylor swift has emitted more co2 this year than an average US american does within 550 years and more than a person from india in over 4,300 years," and earning roughly 190,000 likes in three days (shown below, left). On July 29th, verified Twitter[5] user kylietcheung quote retweeted BesDMarx, attaching a screenshot of an article related to Swift becoming one of the "world's biggest sustainable fashion influencers." The QT received roughly 1,600 likes in three days (shown below, right).


Kylie Cheung @kylietcheung hmmm Why Taylor Swift has become one of the world's biggest sustainable fashion influencers THE TAB HOME FASHION NEWS UK V 4 DAYS AGO The Shake it off singer is equally conscious of her tastes in music as her clothes. Bes D. Marx @BesDMarx Jul 29 taylor swift has emitted more co2 this year than an average US american does within 550 years and more than a person from india in over 4,300 years Show this thread WRITE JEN NURICK 22 APR 2020 f TIPS P kacking up a total of 170 flights on her private et since January, Taylor has amassed a vast The celebs who have racked up the most CO2 emissions this year 2,923 minutes in the air, or 15.9 days. using their private jets Shocker, Kylie Jenner isn't even in the top 10 12:38 PM. Jul 29, 2022. Twitter Web App : 02 flight emissions this year: 8,293.54 tonnes aking the number one spot, is the wholesome ueen Taylor Swift. Shockingly, Taylor has reated more carbon emissions than other elebrity at 8,293 tonnes. Pollution (Taylor's ersion). Considering that she is not currently touring, this sa huge amount. Taylor's average flight time $ 80 minutes with an average of 139.36 miles per light.

Fans of Swift and other skeptics tried poking holes in The Tab's article. For instance, on July 29th, Twitter[6] user nickputation tweeted screenshots showing evidence that The Tab's evidence was unfounded, claiming that Swift's actual carbon emissions were a third of what was represented. Their tweet received over 6,000 likes in three days (shown below, left). Later on July 29th, Twitter user 1989tvalbum (since-deleted) started a thread that they called, "Taylor Swift and her care for the environment," aiming to prove the people of Twitter wrong. In one day, the thread's primary tweet (since-deleted) received roughly 2,100 likes (shown below, right).


nick @nickputation apparently the whole article was fake sm. Their numbers seem off to me as well: Taylor 00, which burns about 300-400 gallons per hour. E emits about 9.5 kg CO2 per gallon, so with 22,923 time that comes out to about 1088-1451 metric to at's still an insane amount, and I don't want to exc ut it's less than a fifth of what the article claims. tually, I'm ready to call total b------- on this article Spielberg they claim he flew 61 flights, with an ave ne of 1h47m, for a total of 12,341 minutes. Howev 107 minutes per flight works out to only 6,527 mi they can't even get this simple math right, I've no ve any of the other figures in the article. Mario @folklulut - 2h Replying to @kaifischer Did you get some money from it? 1 For Kim Kardashian they claim 57 flights averaging (totalling 4,845 minutes), yet she would've emitte 2 Likes rk Wahlberg who flew 10,324 minutes over 65 flig y fly the same type of jet). Doesn't make any sens 12:40 PM. Jul 29, 2022. Twitter for Android 6 Kai Fischer @kaifischer. 1h Not yet. Unfortunately. 9 1 22 @quinnofcomics Replying to @CelebJets Taylor Swift N621MM please 10:45 PM 09 Feb 22 Twitter for iPhone : 1989 (Taylor's Version) commentary @1989tvalbum Taylor Swift and her care for the environment; a thread Taylor Swift 7:47 PM Jul 29, 2022 Twitter for iPhone 448 Retweets 1,272 Quote Tweets 2,184 Likes (→ :

Twitter user 1989tvalbum deleted their account soon after their thread went viral primarily due to the backlash they received for it. Many found it tone deaf, causing them to screenshot it and make funny tweets about it. For instance, on July 30th, 2022, Twitter[7] user BesDMarx posted two screenshots from 1989tvalbum's thread (shown below), captioning them, "this thread is for the Twitter hall of fame," and earning roughly 134,200 likes in two days.


1989 (Taylor's Version) commentary @1989tvalbum Taylor Swift and her care for the environment; a thread Taylor Swift 7:47 PM Jul 29, 2022 Twitter for iPhone 448 Retweets 1,272 Quote Tweets 2,184 Likes (→ : 1989 (Taylor's Version) commentary @1989tvalbum - 18h . In 2020, Taylor Swift silently sold one of her two private jets to greatly reduce her carbon-emission GLOBAL WARMING HARDLINER TAYLOR SWIFT SELLS ONE OF HER TWO PRIVATE JETS 1 Pop superstar and global warming proponent Taylor Swift recently sold one of her two gas-guzzling private jets for a Taylor Swift 2717 361

Developments

Taylor Swift's Response To The Allegations

A spokesperson for Taylor Swift was interviewed by The Rolling Stone[8] on July 29th, 2022 for their article on the matter. The spokesperson was quoted saying, "Taylor’s jet is loaned out regularly to other individuals… To attribute most or all of these trips to her is blatantly incorrect."

The aforementioned quote was tweeted by the Twitter[9] account PopCrave on July 29th, earning roughly 11,000 likes in three days (shown below, left). From this, many viewed the spokesperson's statement as an unfounded excuse. For instance, on July 30th, Twitter[10] user BesDMarx humorously tweeted, "she's running a fucking private jet business which is far worse. upping that earth temperature while earning them benjamins, slay queen 🌈 🌲," earning roughly 15,900 likes in two days (shown below, right).


POP Pop Crave @PopCrave. Jul 29 CRAVE A spokesperson for Taylor Swift tells Rolling Stone that her private jet is "loaned out regularly to other individuals" following a report that she creates the most CO2 emissions among celebrities: "To attribute most or all of these trips to her is blatantly incorrect." "" Bes D. Marx @BesDMarx no but to be fair her spokesman claimed she regularly rents it out to other people. which means she's running a f------ private jet business which is far worse. upping that earth temperature while earning them benjamins, slay queen 10:57 AM Jul 30, 2022 Twitter Web App ●

Taylor Swift Private Jet Memes

Overall, many memes surfaced about Taylor Swift's private jet going into August 2022. Many of them surfaced on Twitter where meme creators paired videos of planes and plane imagery with captions related to Swift running small errands or other tasks that shouldn't require flight.

For instance, on July 30th, 2022, Twitter[11] user normalmadeline captioned a screencap from Top Gun: Maverick with, "Taylor on her way back to chipotle after they forgot her guac," earning roughly 98,700 likes in two days (shown below, left). Also on July 30th, 2022, Twitter[12] user smackcam13 captioned a photo of a guy hanging onto the wing of a plane with, "going to grab a coffee with my friend taylor swift," earning roughly 197,300 likes in two days (shown below, right).


cam @smackcam13 going to grab a coffee with my friend taylor swift 9:49 AM Jul 30, 2022 Twitter for iPhone :

On July 30th, Twitter user tweetsbybob_ captioned a video of fighter jets flying with, "Taylor Swift, Kim K and Kylie seeing who can get to Starbucks first," earning roughly 337,200 likes in two days (shown below).

On February 6th, 2024, The Washington Post[13] published an article titled "Taylor Swift threatens legal action against student who tracks her jet" that reported on a cease-and-desist letter written by Swift's attorneys to Jack Sweeney (the admin of Celeb Jets) who tracks Swift's flights (among other celebrities) on Instagram,[14] Facebook,[15] the subreddit /r/TaylorSwiftJets[16] and the X[17] account @SwiftJetNextDay.

The Washington Post[13] further reported that Swift's legal team was addressing, "direct and irreparable harm, as well as emotional and physical distress" to Swift and her family. Her legal team also emphasized the threat of stalkers. To counter, Sweeney told The Washington Post, "This information is already out there. Her team thinks they can control the world."

Sweeney also told The Washington Post[13] that the cease-and-desist letter was issued to him soon after posts about Swfit's private jet flights from his accounts went viral. For instance, on January 31st, 2024, Sweeney's X[18] account @SwiftJetNextDay posted data showing that Swift flew from St Louis, Illinois, to St Louis, Missouri, in 13 minutes, gaining over 32,000 likes in one week (shown below, left).

On February 6th, 2024, following The Washington Post's article, X[19] user @emptytesticles quoted the flight tracker post, writing, "no wonder her team is trying to ban this flight tracking LMFAOOO," earning over 237,000 likes in a day (shown below, right).


Flew from Cahokia/St Louis, Illinois, US to St Louis, Missouri, US 24 hours ago. Apx. flt. time 13 Mins. aint 5 TA48 Saint Paul August A Busch Memorial Conservation Area Weldon Spring Conservation Area MO 94 MO 100 Taylor Swift Jets (Tracking) @SwiftJetNextDay Pacific MO M 218 220 O'Fallon 222A 224 224 Cottleville 68484-88 91-MA-134- Weldon Spring Louis Airport MO 109 Saint Peters 225 Wildwood Eureka ALT Maps & Data (C) OpenStreetMap.org contributors. 16-17 MOW Harvester Chesterfield 194 227 Ballwin MO MM Saint Charles Why 231 MON MO MM Town and Country Bridgeton * 232-234 235A 236 1:19 PM Jan 31, 2024 26.3M Views Maryland Heights Creve Coeur DE 177-272-274-276 C MO 141 MO 21 Kirkwood 120 226 Hazelwood -268-268-29-28-30-30-33A32-33-34- Overland S 193 193 191 191) Pelican Island Natural Area Florissant Webster Groves 280 Arnold. 195 Ferguson 30 31A-33A- 239-241A University City Affton A Mehlville $1816 199 2418 Oakville MO 94 -202-33 Jennings 242 Missour 7243 Lemay US 67 MO 367 Bellefontaine Neighbors 244A 2458 2014-2024-30-2007 Soint Louis Alton 206C 2 248A 2488 2494- 364 366 38A Saint Louis 287-288- 88-289-2908 Columbia Bottom Conservation Area Chouteau Island Columbia Cahokia Heights Granite City IL 3 Wood River -38- IL 203 IL 3 4-6A 68- Horseshoe Lake State Park @emptytesticles no wonder her team is trying to ban this flight tracking LMFAOOO -214- aint 5 Taylor Swift Jets (Tracking) @SwiftJetNextDay. Jan 31 Flew from Cahokia/St Louis, Illinois, US to St Louis, Missouri, US 24 hours ago. Apx. flt. time 13 Mins. TA 48 Saint Paul. August A Busch Memorial Conservation Area Weldon Spring Conservation Area MO 94 Bob MO 100 MO M O'Fallon -220 Cottleville 222A 224 224 9 Weldon Spring 68484-86919-MA-134-12 Saint Louis Airport MO 109 Saint Peters 225. Eurek Wildwood ALT Maps & Data (C) OpenStreetMap.org contributors. 16-ON MOW Harvester Chesterfield 194 222 Ballwin - MO MM Saint Charles 231 MO M MO MM 232 Bridgeton Maryland Heights Creve Coeur Town and Country 11:39 PM. Feb 6, 2024 10.9M Views 232-234-235A236 272-272274-276 MO 141 MO 21 284 288 * Kirkwood Overland S 228 Hazelwood 268-268-29-28-30-30-31A-32-33-34- 193 193 191 Pelican Island Natural Area Florissant Webster Groves 9280 Arnold. 195 88 Ferguson 239-241A 30 31A-33A University City 284 Affton 199 14 Mehlville 1816 2418 Oakville MO 94 Jennings Lemay -22-33- Missouri US 67 34A 364 366 MO 367 Bellefontaine Neighbors 2442 Soint Louis 2017 024 30 20 Subscribe FOR 2468 247 Alton 248A 2488 2494- 38 Saint Louis 24 38 287-288-289-2908 TOLON Columbia Bottom Conservation Area Chouteau Island Columbia Granite City Cahokia Heights IL 3 Wood River IL 203 10A48 IL 3 Bet 4-6A468-44 Horseshoe Lake State Park IL t.o

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