Outspoken podcaster Megyn Kelly called for a boycott of Taylor Swift after the pop superstar attended a fundraiser that provided “humanitarian relief to the people of Gaza.”
Swift — named Time’s “Person of the Year” after her “Eras Tour” became the first tour to cross the billion-dollar mark — lent her star power to stand-up comedian Ramy Youssef’s “More Feelings” tour, which made a pit stop at the Brooklyn Academy of Music on Friday.
Money from the event went to benefit the non-governmental organization American Near East Refugee Aid (ANERA), the Queens-born Youssef said in an Instagram post, as Israeli troops attempt to root out Hamas in the Gaza Strip following the deadly Oct. 7 terrorist attacks.
On Tuesday’s episode of “The Megyn Kelly Show,” Kelly fumed that Swift “owes Israelis and Jewish Americans an apology” for attending the event.
Kelly added she wants Swift to be “held to account for this absurdity,” but podcast guest Andrew Klavan said he doubts the singer will face any backlash because she is “too powerful.”
“She’s a likable pop star, and I guess all I can say about that is I don’t turn to my pop stars for political wisdom. I wish they would shut up and sing,” Klavan added of Swift, whose highly publicized romance with Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce has expanded her fan base.
Kelly insisted that Swift’s attendance at the comedy show was no laughing matter since ANERA has been described as “highly political, presenting a highly biased view of the Israel-Palestine war, ignoring any Palestinian responsibility for hardship, and contributing to the demonization of Israel.”
ANERA’s website, however, stresses it “does not work with or even coordinate” with Hamas because the latter is designated by the US government as a “terrorist group.”
“That is the group Taylor Swift thought it might be fun to raise money for, attend the fundraiser for,” Kelly raged.
“Do some googling — see what they do in Gaza to gays. See about women’s rights in Gaza, Taylor.”
“Otherwise, do this when it comes to talking about this issue again,” said Kelly while motioning in a way that suggested Swift should shut up.
“You clearly know nothing,” Kelly said of Swift, who celebrated her 34th birthday Wednesday.
The singer’s loyal legion of Swifties immediately came to her defense, claiming Swift “just went to a comedy show.”
“Taylor going to see a comedy show is not her actively supporting Gaza. this is Ramy actively supporting Gaza,” another shared on X.
On Nov. 15, Youssef wrote on Instagram that “100% of the proceeds” for the remainder of his standup tour “will be donated to American Near East Refugee Aid (ANERA), providing humanitarian relief to the people of Gaza.” Rob Kim
“What is this? Unless Swift is donating, the credit should only be granted to Youssef who is the person actually donating to people in Gaza,” a third fan chimed in.
Other X users pointed out that fellow A-listers who attended the comedy show, including Selena Gomez, Anya Taylor-Joy, Zoë Kravitz and Cara Delevingne, weren’t facing the same heat for it.