A video showing a man smashing a Taylor Swift guitar with a hammer at a Texas charity auction has sparked outrage among Swift’s fans, known as “Swifties.” The man, identified as Gary Estes, purchased the guitar for $3,200 (£2,390) at a charity auction and immediately destroyed it, drawing cheers from the audience. The guitar, decorated with images of Swift from her Eras Tour, was believed to be autographed by the singer, though doubts have since surfaced regarding its authenticity.
Initially, Estes and the auction organizers described the incident as a light-hearted joke meant to entertain the crowd. “It was just a joke at an auction that we had to raise money for kids,” Estes explained to NBC News. “There was nothing mean about it.” Craig Meier, the auctioneer and spokesperson for the event, agreed, initially labeling it a “funny, light-hearted thing.”
However, both Meier and Estes later admitted that the stunt carried a political undertone. Estes, a vocal supporter of Donald Trump, revealed that the destruction of the guitar was a subtle protest against Swift’s political involvement. Swift recently endorsed Kamala Harris, and Estes suggested that the act was “a bit of a dig” at entertainers using their influence in politics. “Yes, you can connect the dots there,” he added.
The video of the incident quickly went viral on TikTok, where it was met with widespread condemnation from Swift’s loyal fanbase. Many were outraged not only by the destruction of the guitar but also by the political motivations behind it.
Questions have since arisen about whether the guitar was truly signed by Swift, as sources close to her merchandise company denied that it bore her authentic signature. Despite this, the remains of the smashed guitar were listed on eBay with a starting bid of $100 (£75), with all proceeds going back to the charity supported by the auction.