Thu Sep 12 00:39:25 UTC 2024: ## Taylor Swift Uses VMAs Platform to Push for Voter Registration, Honors 9/11

Taylor Swift, fresh off a controversial Instagram post endorsing Kamala Harris for president, took the stage at the MTV Video Music Awards to focus on a different kind of political message: urging fans to register to vote.

The pop star, who won Video of the Year for “You Need To Calm Down,” used her acceptance speech to call for action in the upcoming presidential election, following a powerful opening speech where she reflected on the 9/11 attacks.

Swift, who had not mentioned Harris by name during the ceremony, used the opportunity to highlight the significance of voting and encourage fans to use their voices. Her call to action came at the end of a night marked by a patriotic theme, with host Megan Thee Stallion opening the show in a red, white, and blue leotard.

Swift’s focus on voter registration follows a whirlwind 24 hours that began with her Harris endorsement, which sparked debate and led to a surge in voter registration website traffic. The star also used her acceptance speech for “Fortnight,” her collaboration with Post Malone, to publicly thank her boyfriend, Travis Kelce.

While the VMAs have historically been a platform for social commentary and controversy, politics played a less prominent role this year. However, Swift’s message, combined with the show’s overall theme, served as a reminder of the importance of exercising one’s right to vote.

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