In 2023, pop superstar Taylor Swift embarked on an ambitious 21-month-long world tour, spanning 151 shows across five continents. On April 2 of this year, Swift was included for the first time in “World’s Celebrity Billionaires” list. The outlet noted that the 14-time Grammy winner had achieved billionaire status, due in part to an “estimated $190 million post-tax earnings from her historic Eras Tour.” Forbes also announced that Swift was “the first person to [become a billionaire] based solely on songwriting and performing.”
Swift’s private jet usage has become a viral talking point on social media, with an animated map showing the extensive travel her jets undertook in 2023. The illustration shows airplanes with two different tail numbers flying to various destinations around North America, across to the United Kingdom, and down to South America. As of press time, the video has garnered more than 25 million views on TikTok and over 38 million views on Twitter.
According to a study from Greenly released earlier this month, Swift traveled nearly 37,053 miles, generating 77.5 tons of CO2e over almost 113 flight hours during the American leg of her nearly one-year tour. The study was conducted before Swift downsized to a single private jet. For her South American leg, the celebrated artist is believed to have emitted 61.6 tCO2e, having traveled 29,431 miles. Therefore, the Eras Tour has emitted 139 tons in CO2e emissions for 66,484 miles worth of travel for the North American and South American legs alone. This does not consider the fact that Swift has also flown to Asia and Australia for her world tour and still has the European leg to go.
Swift’s publicist previously told The Associated Press that the singer “purchased more than double the carbon credits needed to offset all tour travel,” before her tour began, but did not provide any further details.
Much of the controversy over Swift’s private jet usage is due to what people deem as unnecessary travel. For instance, Swift was spotted traveling from Buenos Aires back to New York City in November 2023 before the Rio Shows began during the South American leg of the Eras Tour. Throughout the U.S. leg of the tour in Spring 2023, Swift often traveled back and forth between the city where she held her concert and her residence in New York City.
Despite the criticism, Swift’s supporters argue that her travel is necessary for her record-breaking Eras Tour, which has generated significant revenue and made a positive impact on local economies. “Mind you: she was on a world tour which is projected to boost the global economy by $80 billion,” one Twitter user wrote, adding that Swift “caused massive revenue spikes in the food/hotel industries, local shops, etc. all while making massive donations aimed at feeding the poor. But that doesn’t fit your narrative [I guess].”
“What do y’all want her to do during tour?? Walk and swim there??” asked another. “Yeah she was *checks notes* on a world tour,” read another fan comment.
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