Chely Wright and Taylor Swift
Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images; Gotham/GC images
Country singer Chely Wright, who came out as gay in 2010, called a New York Times opinion piece criticizing him for speculation about Taylor Swift's sexuality “triggering” and “horrible.”
Wright, who first spoke publicly about being gay in 2010 and wrote about her personal challenges in coming out as a Christian from rural Kansas in a Huffington Post blog, was featured in an editorial published Thursday in the Times Title “See What We Made Taylor Swift Do” mentioned.”
The 5,000-word guest essay suggests that Swift is a closeted queer woman who sends subtextual signals about her sexuality. Beyond Swift, the article discusses important moments in pop culture and the political progress that has been made regarding LGBTQ rights in the United States since the beginning of Swift's career. That includes Wright coming out.
“I was mentioned in the article, so I will comment on it. I think it’s terrible of @nytimes to publish it.” Wright said in an X post (formerly known as Twitter) about the article on Sunday. “For me it's triggering to read it – not because the author mentioned that I almost ended my life – but to see a public figure's sexuality being talked about is disturbing.”
The article, by the same author who published a 2022 Times article examining the queerbaiting allegations surrounding Harry Styles, directly references Wright's memoir “Like Me: Confessions of a Heartland Country Singer.” In it, the musician discusses the challenges LGBTQ country singers face in receiving equal investment and support from the industry while remaining open about their sexuality. It also opens with this line: “In 2006, the year Taylor Swift released her first single, a closeted country singer named Chely Wright, then 35, held a 9-millimeter pistol to her mouth.”
“Queer identity was still so taboo in mainstream America that speaking about her love for another woman would have meant the end of her career as a country music artist. But by suppressing her identity, Ms. Wright had risked her life,” the comment said. “The culture in which Ms. Wright picked up this weapon — the same culture in which Ms. Swift first became a star — was strikingly different from today.”
In the days since its publication, the article has come under increasing scrutiny, with some on social media calling for its retraction amid open speculation about a public figure's private life and identity. On Saturday, CNN reported that Swift's “employees” were upset about the article.
“There is a Taylor-shaped gap in people’s ethics right now because of her enormous success,” one person, who wished to remain anonymous, told the outlet. “This article should not have been written about Shawn Mendes or any other male artist whose sexuality has been questioned by fans.”
This person added: “There seems to be no line that some journalists won't cross when writing about Taylor, no matter how intrusive, untrue and inappropriate it is – all under the protective veil of an 'opinion piece.'
Representatives for Swift and the Times have not yet responded to 's request for comment on the Times article.