Taylor Swift casts trans actor Laith Ashley as her love interest in Midnights music videos
21 October 2022, 12:58 | Updated: 21 October 2022, 13:10
Fans are praising Taylor Swift for using her Midnights music videos as an opportunity for trans representation.
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Taylor Swift has cast trans actor, model and activist Laith Ashley as a love interest in her upcoming Midnights music videos.
Today (Oct 21), Taylor Swift released her highly-anticipated 10th studio album Midnights and, ahead of the project, Taylor put out a trailer for the album in which she teases the music videos that she has filmed for the project. In the video teaser, Taylor can be seen dancing, smashing a guitar and being shot by an arrow all while wearing a variety of iconic different outfits.
At the end of the trailer, Taylor reveals the star-studded cast of her Midnights visuals. The full list of appearances includes: Jack Antonoff, Laith Ashley, Mike Birbiglia, Laura Dern, John Early, Mary Elizabeth Ellis, Alan Haim, Danielle Haim, Este Haim, Pat McGrath and Dita Von Teese alongside Taylor herself. The first video 'Anti-Hero' is out today.
The teaser also shows Taylor lying in bed with Laith Ashley and dancing with him. Fans were quick to praise Taylor for casting a trans actor as her love interest and using her Midnights videos as an opportunity for trans representation.
READ MORE: Lana Del Rey is basically silent in Taylor Swift's Snow on the Beach and the memes are brutal
Following the release of the Midnights trailer, Laith took to his Instagram stories to write: "I will post tomorrow. Super excited but I got into a car accident picking up my dad from the airport". Thankfully both Laith and his dad both appear to be okay because Laith then shared the trailer writing: "You are magic. Thank you for letting me play a small part in your story."
Reacting to Taylor's casting decision, one fan tweeted: "Taylor's love interest in one of the videos is transgender actor/model Laith Ashley and I'm crying". Another added: "Taylor Swift having Laith Ashley play her love interest in a Midnights music video is so beautiful and important. A transgender actor and model is starring in a Taylor Swift music video!"
Someone else also tweeted: "Most of the trans men I know are Swifties. It’s incredible to see @laith_ashley as a part of the Midnights music videos, and appearing to be a character of Taylor’s desire no less."
taylors love interest in one of the videos is transgender actor/model Laith Ashley and im crying pic.twitter.com/a8jyQG9o5o
— hayden (@tayslondonboy) October 21, 2022
Taylor Swift having Laith Ashley play her love interest in a Midnights music video is so beautiful and important.
— Alex Goldschmidt (@alexandergold) October 21, 2022
A transgender actor and model is starring in a Taylor Swift music video! pic.twitter.com/qR21KvxwQg
Most of the trans men I know are Swifties. It’s incredible to see @laith_ashley as a part of the Midnights music videos, and appearing to be a character of Taylor’s desire no less. A big moment for representation in many ways. #TSmidnighTS https://t.co/fkqICfiPtm
— alex schmider (@anderfinn) October 21, 2022
We have to talk about how it appears that Laith Ashley is Taylor Swift's love interest in the Midnights Visuals!! pic.twitter.com/0l4x4xKeDW
— kelseylikesthings (@kelseylikes) October 21, 2022
if Laith Ashley, activist and openly trans model, plays taylor's love interest i will die FINALLY A WIN FOR SEXY PEOPLE!!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/XJgEAAr2mA
— 🌸 sydney 🌸 (@squid7000) October 21, 2022
We love to see it!
Read more Taylor Swift news here:
- Taylor Swift explains the meaning behind her Snow on the Beach lyrics with Lana Del Rey
- Taylor Swift re-recordings: All the release dates of the Taylor’s Version albums in order
- Taylor Swift explains the soul-crushing meaning behind her Anti-Hero lyrics
- Here’s why Taylor Swift songs are all over the Summer I Turned Pretty soundtrack
- Taylor Swift explains the romantic meaning behind her Lavender Haze lyrics
