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Ontario Premier Doug Ford has come under fire for his polarizing comments aimed at best-selling artist, Taylor Swift, who endorsed U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris for the 2024 presidential election last month.
At a press conference on Tuesday, Ford spoke with reporters about the economic growth set to be facilitated by Swift’s six-show stop at the Rogers Centre for her record-breaking Eras Tour.
Ford praised Swift, saying that he “can’t wait until she comes here” and drives economic growth. “She’s a brilliant business person and a musician. Boy, excuse the pun, but what a rockstar she is coming here and creating more jobs,” he added.
New data released by Destination Toronto reveals that Swift’s concerts in Toronto throughout November could bring as much as $282 million in economic impact to the city. The tour, which is coming to Toronto on Nov. 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, and 23, is the highest-grossing tour of all time and the first in history to surpass US$1 billion in revenue.
NEW – Premier Ford praises Taylor Swift and the economic impact she will have on Toronto, calling her “ brilliant” but adds “She should stick with music, and let the other folks stick with what they do best” Swift recently endorsed Kamala Harris for US president.
— Richard Southern (@RichardCityNews) October 15, 2024
Despite this, Ford reportedly told the media that Swift “should stick with music, and let the other folks stick with what they do best.” After being posted to X, the quote was met with anger by Ontario residents and Swifties across the country, who called the Premier’s comments “misogynistic.”
A Canadian politician telling an American citizen that she can’t vote or endorse an American candidate? @fordnation stay in your lane.
— shishito (@shishito6ix) October 15, 2024
Still, when asked if he’s planning to attend any of Swift’s Toronto shows, Ford replied, “We’ll see,” with a smile.
Are any of you calling out his obvious misogyny?
— Meredith Heron (@meredithheron) October 15, 2024
Leader of the Ontario NDP and Opposition, Marit Stiles, also got involved in the conversation and urged the Premier to go back to his “sticker business.”
First Ford tells teachers to “stick to their knitting”
Now he tells Taylor to “stick to music”
Hey Doug,
why don’t you go back to your sticker business….we got this. #TeachersVote #SwiftieNation https://t.co/pWMnvi6Jp7
— Marit Stiles (@MaritStiles) October 15, 2024
Others thought the comments didn’t come as a surprise, and referenced a CityNews video from 2016 when Ford spoke highly about Republican U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump and called his support for the controversial figure “unwavering.”
If @fordnation was to take his own advice, and ‘stick with what he does best’….what the hell would he be blathering about??? 🤣🤣🤣
— JAMne🇨🇦 (@JAMain62589705) October 15, 2024
In September, Swift endorsed Harris for the upcoming presidential election, calling her a “steady-handed, gifted leader,” and supported her decision to select Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate, who, she wrote, has been “standing up for LGBTQ+ rights, IVF, and a woman’s right to her own body for decades.”
His comment is extremely misogynistic
— Leslie 🐕🐕 (@Leslie_M) October 15, 2024
Following Swift’s endorsement, roughly 400,000 people clicked through from her Instagram account to a federal voting information site in 24 hours.
