I was talking with my new man friend about Taylor Swift when he said something that stopped me in my tracks.
“It’s one thing to say I’m not exactly a Swiftie. But you can’t say she’s not talented. If you do, you’re just a hater. It’s like saying Michael Jackson can’t dance.”
That’s it.
I have never once in my life heard someone say Michael Jackson can’t dance. Not once. Even the people who couldn’t stand him never said he wasn’t talented. That’s exactly why the conversation around him is so hard. We wrestle with separating the artist from the art because that music shaped our lives, whether the artist was problematic or not.
But here’s the thing about Taylor. I’ve never read about her being accused of anything malicious. She shows up with kindness over and over again. And she is undeniably, verifiably, generationally talented.
You can say her music isn’t for you. That’s allowed. That’s preference.
You cannot say she isn’t good at this. That’s not an opinion. That’s just being wrong out loud.
The Qualifier
There’s a group of people whose craft is so complete that denying it says nothing about them and everything about you. I call them The Undeniables.
You can’t say Michael Jackson couldn’t dance.
You can’t say Tom Brady was bad at football.
You can’t say Beyoncé can’t perform.
You can’t say Bob Dylan can’t write a song.
You can’t say Freddie Mercury couldn’t sing.
You can’t say Serena Williams can’t play tennis.
You can’t say Simone Biles can’t flip.
You can’t say Meryl Streep can’t act.
You can’t say Robin Williams wasn’t funny.
And you cannot say Taylor Swift isn’t talented.
The qualifier isn’t “beloved by everyone.”
Plenty of people don’t love Brady.
Plenty of people skip Beyoncé songs.
The qualifier is “undeniable even to the haters.”
When your critics have to start their sentences with “look, she’s obviously talented, but…” you’ve made it.
Taylor clears it. She’s cleared it for years. The debate ended a long time ago, and some people just haven’t gotten the memo.
Why Denial Is Louder Than Truth
Here’s where my recovery brain kicks in. Because Taylor Swift and recovery have always been connected for me. And I know denial when I see it. I lived in it for years.
Denial isn’t confusion. Deniers aren’t missing information. The person who says “Taylor Swift has no talent” has heard the music. They know about the sold-out stadiums, the rerecorded albums, the songwriting catalog that spans two decades. They have all the evidence. They just can’t let it in.
Sound familiar?
That was me with my own life. I had all the evidence. I just couldn’t let it in. Denying what’s undeniable felt safer than sitting with what was true. Denial is the oldest survival strategy in addiction, and it is very good at its job, which is why sober recovery spends so much time on it.
Recovery taught me a skill I didn’t know I needed: the ability to say “this is just true” and let it stand. This is what happened. This is who I am. This is what I’m capable of. No spin. No hedging. No “yeah but.”
And here’s the part I want you to hear. “You can’t say she’s not talented” and “you can’t say I’m not worth saving” are the same muscle.
Swifties know what it feels like to be written off. To have something we love dismissed as silly or shallow by people who never really looked. Maybe that’s why we defend her so hard. And maybe that’s why so many sober Swifties found their way to a recovery community like Swift Steps®. Sober, sober curious, still deciding. Everybody’s welcome.
We already knew how to believe in something the haters got wrong.
The trick is doing it about ourselves. You clear the qualifier too.
Not because you feel like it today.
Because the evidence has been in for years.
You are worthy just because.
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What is the main theme of ‘The Undeniables’ article?
The article explores the concept of undeniable talent, showcasing individuals whose skills are recognized even by critics, and draws a parallel to recovery and self-worth.
How does the article relate Taylor Swift to the concept of ‘The Undeniables’?
Taylor Swift is highlighted as an artist whose talent is undeniable, even to those who may not prefer her music, likening her to other universally acknowledged icons in various fields.
Why does the author compare denial in the context of talent and recovery?
The author uses denial in both contexts to illustrate how people may choose to ignore undeniable truths, whether it’s acknowledging talent or recognizing personal worth in recovery.
What is the significance of mentioning other famous personalities alongside Taylor Swift?
Mentioning other famous personalities emphasizes the concept of undeniable talent across different fields, reinforcing the idea that some skills are universally recognized.
How does the article connect the experience of Swifties to the recovery community?
The article draws a parallel between the experience of defending Taylor Swift against critics and the journey of self-validation in recovery, highlighting the importance of believing in oneself despite external perceptions.
