The videos began circulating on Monday evening: United States, a man approaches a stage to collect the object he had just bought at auction, a guitar thought to have been signed by Taylor Swift for which he had paid 4000 dollars. In his hand he held a hammer. He grabbed the guitar and began to hit it and destroy it amidst the laughter and applause of those present, including the auctioneer, who in fact stopped him only when the man started to smash the instrument on the ground. Having done his, the buyer walked away gloating.
A man destroyed a signed Taylor Swift guitar after paying $4000 at the auction
— Dexerto (@Dexerto) September 30, 2024
The event was called the Ellis County Wild Game Dinner, and was held just outside of Dallas, Texas, on Sunday evening. As of Monday, the video has racked up more than 22 million views. Too bad that, as reported today by Varietywho contacted a source close to the artist's merch company, the guitar up for auction did not actually belong to the pop star, contrary to what had previously transpired.
According to the updated version of facts, the instrument would only have contained a CD autographed by Swift. It is not clear whether the man was aware of all this, which casts further doubts on the reasons for his action, which were immediately unclear and potentially linked to recent events.
Speculation was immediately activated: was it a political gesture, a response to Taylor Swift's endorsement of Kamala Harris? Or a knowing wink at Donald Trump's recent post on his Truth Social, “I hate Taylor Swift”?
Speaking with the event organisation, TMZ had confirmed that the guitar would be donated to the auction before the artist spoke out in favor of the current vice president of the United States. And which, obviously, had not been given away to be destroyed.
The hypothesis that the instrument was accompanied by a certificate of authenticity guaranteeing Swift's signature therefore expires. The guitar would have been made available to the Ellis County Wild Game Dinner by a third party, and not directly by the artist's management.
There was no comment from Swift or her entourage.
