Netflix has come under fire for a misogynistic joke that was made about Taylor Swift in the new series, Ginny & Georgia.
In the final episode of the comedy-drama, Georgia (Brianne Howey) asks Ginny (Antonia Gentry) if she has broken up with her boyfriend, Hunter, to which she responds: “What do you care? You go through men faster than Taylor Swift.”
Swift took to social media to criticise the show’s writers for resorting to a well-worn trope about her dating life, which has been the subject of media scrutiny for years. Posting to Twitter, she said: “Hey Ginny & Georgia, 2010 called and it wants its lazy, deeply sexist joke back. How about we stop degrading hard working women by defining this horse shit as funny. Also, Netflix after Miss Americana this outfit doesn’t look cute on you. Happy Women’s History Month I guess”.
The singer’s fans have also addressed a similar joke that featured in a previous Netflix original, Degrassi: Next Class, where a character said: “Taylor Swift made an entire career off her exes”.
“Reminder that people can date whomsoever they want. Last time I checked Taylor Swift was more famous and talented than many of you misogynists will ever be,” one fan wrote on Twitter.
Another commented: “I was really enjoying Ginny & Georgia until they had to add the really inappropriate Taylor Swift jab from a character that is supposed to be a feminist.”
A third pointed out the contradiction that Netflix is currently supporting International Women’s Month, but also promoting shows that feature blatant misogyny. They said: “Hey Netflix you can’t have it both ways – can’t post her icon for International Women’s Day and then include misogynistic lines in your shows. Take the line out. Respect Taylor Swift.”
Swift’s song ‘The Man’, which hits at sexist double standards and features on 2019’s ‘Lover’, is also being widely cited in light of the issue. “Taylor just explains everything her [sic]. She wrote the song [‘The Man’] to tell the people that if she was the man and did everything that she did right now but in a man’s body and dating so many women that won’t be an issue”, a fan wrote.
Since the release of ‘Lover’, Swift shared two surprise albums in 2020, ‘Folklore’ and ‘Evermore’. She was set to support the trio of records with live dates for her own Lover Fest in Europe and the US this summer, but both runs have been cancelled due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
