Billboard faces backlash and apologizes to Taylor Swift over nude wax figure clip

In the United States, Billboard issued an apology to Taylor Swift after featuring unauthorized footage of a nude wax figure of her in a video posted to social media. The video was part of Billboard's ongoing series highlighting the top pop stars of the 21st century, where Swift was placed at No. 2. The segment included a clip from the controversial music video for rapper Kanye West's 2016 song 'Famous,' which portrays several nude wax figures of celebrities, including Swift. This particular clip was used to discuss Swift's long-standing feud with West and his then-wife Kim Kardashian. The apology was prompted by widespread criticism from Swift's fans, known as Swifties, who found the use of the nude depiction disrespectful, especially in a video that aimed to celebrate Swift's achievements. The backlash was so significant that the hashtag #BillboardIsOverParty began trending on X, with many fans vocally expressing their discontent over both the clip's inclusion and Billboard's decision to rank Swift as the second-best pop star. Billboard publicly apologized, stating that they were deeply sorry for the harm they caused with the error and that they have since removed the clip from the video. The publication acknowledged the gravity of misrepresenting Swift in a celebration of her work and expressed regret for any distress caused. Swift has previously denounced the 'Famous' video as 'revenge porn' in a past Tumblr post, further highlighting her ongoing discomfort with how the media represents her. The controversy reflects broader issues related to the treatment of women in the entertainment industry, especially how their images can be manipulated and misrepresented without consent. Billboard is set to announce its No. 1 pick for pop star in the coming days, but the fallout from this incident may have lasting implications for its reputation among fans and the public.