Yesterday, Time magazine announced that its 2017 Person of the Year would be the "Silence Breakers" – a group of women and men who catalysed the global conversation surrounding sexual harassment and assault.
One of the women featured was Taylor Swift, who, in August this year – just a couple of months before the Harvey Weinstein allegations broke – sued the man who sexually assaulted her in 2013 for a symbolic $1.
And during an interview with Time, Taylor revealed how "lonely and draining" the legal process had been, but that she wanted to offer a message of support and solidarity with other survivors.
She said:
My advice [to other victims] is that you do not blame yourself and do not accept the blame others will try to place on you. You should not be blamed for waiting 15 minutes or 15 days or 15 years to report sexual assault or harassment, or for the outcome of what happens to a person after he or she makes the choice to sexually harass or assault you.
However, people were quick to suggest that Taylor was undeserving of her place on the cover.
4. I know Taylor Swift was included on the cover to sell magazines, and I'm not going to take away from anyone's ex… https://t.co/Ny87bdCFc2
Some said she was only an advocate for survivors when "she is directly affected".
@TIME hi big fan love ur mag so sorry but taylor swift is only a silence breaker when she is directly affected 🤗 s… https://t.co/1Fbxxk3qBE
While others said that other celebrities, such as Kesha, would have been more deserving of a place on the cover.
Taylor Swift shouldn’t be on that cover. That should’ve gone to Kesha. #TYTLive
However, there was one celebrity who wasn't here for the comments – Game of Thrones actor Sophie Turner.
When she saw a person had responded to the Time tweet announcing the Person of the Year with this...
@TIME Did we really need Taylor Swift in here though?
...she swooped in there to shut the criticism down with one simple word.
She then shared a message of support for all the Silence Breakers.
Go Sophie!
