Taylor Swift’s fans need to calm down. On Friday evening, hundreds of Swifties swarmed the pop superstar as she left a restaurant on Long Beach Island in New Jersey. Swift was reportedly attending Jack Antonoff’s rehearsal dinner ahead of his wedding to Margaret Qualley. News of Swift’s presence at the dinner quickly spread, resulting in a crowd of fans waiting outside the eatery to catch a glimpse of the Grammy-winner. However, while the fans were excited to see Swift, criticism began to emerge online regarding their behavior. Many TikTok creators described their actions as “weird” and even went as far as calling them “stalkers.” One TikTok user went on to share a video showing Swift looking startled by the scene and questioned the fans’ behavior.
The online backlash continued as some TikTokers argued that the fans’ behavior was disrespectful to both Swift and Antonoff, pointing out lyrics from Swift’s songs that supposedly reference her unease in such situations. They expressed disbelief and highlighted the negative impact of para-social relationships with celebrities. Another TikToker called the fans “absolutely disgusting” and suggested they may have disrupted Antonoff’s wedding celebrations.
Paparazzi snaps confirmed that Swift was accompanied by actors Zoe Kravitz and Channing Tatum. One TikTok creator even focused on Kravitz’s facial expression, claiming it accurately reflected the evening. Several TikTokers referenced Swift’s documentary “Miss Americana,” where she is seen being mobbed by screaming fans. They emphasized the documentary’s portrayal of Swift’s discomfort in such situations. Despite the criticism, fans are expected to be on the lookout for Swift again on Long Beach Island for Antonoff and Qualley’s wedding, which is also rumored to be attended by Lana Del Rey, Cara Delevingne, and Ryan Reynolds. Rumors of Antonoff and Qualley’s engagement began last year when Qualley was spotted wearing a stunning diamond ring on her finger.