Former foes Taylor Swift and Katy Perry hug it out in 'You Need to Calm Down' video — and fans are freaking out
No, hell hasn’t frozen over. In fact, the weather looks pretty fine in the video for “You Need to Calm Down,” which Taylor Swift released Monday morning.
The pop star’s fans were treated to an unexpected plot twist at the end of the cameo-heavy video, which features appearances from Ryan Reynolds, Ciara and several LGBTQ stars, including the Queer Eye crew, Billy Porter, Ellen DeGeneres, Laverne Cox, RuPaul and Jesse Tyler Ferguson.
As Swift sings about society “comparing all the girls who are killing it,” drag performers from RuPaul’s Drag Race imitate her and fellow pop stars like Beyoncé, Ariana Grande and Lady Gaga appear onstage. Drag queen Adore Delano is dressed as Katy Perry, with whom Swift has famously feuded in recent years. The former friends are said to have fallen out after Perry tried to hire back her former backup dancers, who had since gone on to dance for Swift’s tour. The two singers have exchanged barbs in interviews, and released songs (Swift’s “Bad Blood” and Perry’s “Swish Swish”) rumored to be about their beef.
? RuGirls in the cast of #YNTCDMusicVideo ?
Tatiana (Ariana Grande)
Trinity The Tuck (Lady Gaga)
Delta Work (Adele)
Trinity K. Bonet (Cardi B)
Jade Jolie (Taylor Swift)
Riley Knoxx (Beyoncé)*
Adore Delano (Katy Perry)
A'keria C. Davenport (Nicki Minaj)pic.twitter.com/MY1BPdcGZ9— comento rpdr (@suprqueen) June 17, 2019
Last week, however, the pop stars — both of whom are promoting new albums — hinted at a reconciliation via a plate of chocolate chip cookies posted to Instagram. “Peace at last,” Perry’s post pledged, prompting fans to speculate about a potential collaboration.
Sure enough, Swift’s new video ends with her wearing a fries costume while her onetime nemesis pops up in the burger costume she famously wore to the Met Gala after-party. As the characters around them have a food fight, Swift and Perry slowly walk towards one another and embrace. The video ends with Swift singing “you need to calm down” one last time while Perry flashes her a smile.
Whether the two have buried the hatchet for real or are shrewdly using their fight to make headlines, they’ve succeeded in winning the world’s attention. Fans took to Twitter to share their reactions.
telling you I screamed is an understatement https://t.co/1fg6TC6z9a
— Jemima Skelley (@jemimaskelley) June 17, 2019
Was Katie’s Met Gala look an elaborate promo for this video? pic.twitter.com/HE2HbmBpAG
— Emma Fraser (@frazbelina) June 17, 2019
World War III is finally over yas
— troy bolton (@trentevola) June 17, 2019
shut up katy and taylor being softies that’s the best thing ever
— 𝐣𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐞 (@tswiftts) June 17, 2019
WE!!! NEED!!! TO!!! CALM! DOWN!!! Katy and Taylor beef is OVERRRR pic.twitter.com/bU9MaGasUv
— Janeee (@Janedeps) June 17, 2019
WHEN KATY AND TAYLOR SAW EACH OTHER I SAW MY LIFE FLASH BEFORE MY VERY OWN EYES pic.twitter.com/7CHqTMowpe
— baby dolly!! (@gaynesswift) June 17, 2019
taylor swift and katy perry rising above the drama TOGETHER is what i am HERE FOR pic.twitter.com/cDXaQIlRFh
— daphne 🦋 (@plantIover) June 17, 2019
Perry, meanwhile, has declared their relationship to be “beef-free.”
This meal is BEEF-free #MeatFreeMonday 🍔??🍟 #YNTCDmusicvideohttps://t.co/m2kA0mZgQe pic.twitter.com/yKYmnTxBy5
— KATY PERRY (@katyperry) June 17, 2019
Impressive. Of course, we’ll be even more blown away if Swift’s next video sees her hugging it out with Kanye West.
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