Taylor Swift has revealed her approach to dealing with public criticism, stating that she sometimes "mocks them back." The 36-year-old superstar discussed her "unmanageably big" level of fame in a retrospective conversation for The Icon Sessions, presented by the Recording Academy's Songwriters & Composers Wing on August 18.
Swift explained that negative public perception does not stifle her creativity, and can even fuel it. "Sometimes I like to just use words that they have to look up in order to talk s**t about," she quipped, adding that she has developed several coping mechanisms over the years. A key strategy for her is to remind herself that she chose this path and continues to do so because she loves it.
"And I decided not to [opt out] because I love it that much," Swift said. "And that's just where it begins and where it ends. And everything that comes with this ultimately is worth it as long as I get to still make music."
She also addressed common criticisms, such as fans saying, "Oh, easy for you to say." Swift emphasized that she creates music for her fans and for those who find solace in it, similar to her own experience. She believes that if an artist continues to create music they love, even without seeking universal validation, they are doing it for the right reasons.
During the Icon Sessions, Swift also performed a mashup of her songs "I Knew It, I Knew You," "August," and "All Too Well." She reflected on her relationship with music, stating, "I never turned to music to forget my human experience. I turned to music to remember it."
The interview took place approximately two months after her wedding to Travis Kelce. Kelce recently described their wedding as "crazy" and the "best night of my life."