Chilean president-elect goes viral with message of support for Taylor Swift

Reuters

Chile’s president-elect Gabriel Boric, 35, took sides in his first international incident: he sided with pop star Taylor Swift, 32, in a social media dispute against Blur frontman Damon Albarn, 53, for account of their status as songwriters.

Albarn, the British co-founder and songwriter of the band Gorillaz, suggested in an interview that Swift did not write all of her songs. This led to an angry reaction from the American singer. Albarn apologized later.

Boric lent his support to Swift in a tweet that quickly went viral in his country, in a reflection of how the former student leader is shaking up politics in Chile, traditionally the most austere country in South America.

“Here in Chile you have a large group of supporters who know that you write your own songs with your heart,” said Boric, who will become Chile’s youngest president and a self-declared Swift fan, to his 1.4 million Twitter followers. The publication had almost 85 thousand likes until Tuesday night (25). “Hugs from the south, Taylor.”

Swift had already reacted to Albarn’s comment on Twitter. “I was a huge fan until I saw this. I write ALL of my own songs. Your comment is completely false and so hurtful,” the singer said.

Albarn made his own mea culpa. “I totally agree with you. I took part in a songwriting conversation and sadly it was reduced to click hunting. I apologize unreservedly and unconditionally. The last thing I want to do is discredit your songwriting,” he said.