Weddings can be stressful for the bride and groom, most of the time. However, Taylor Swift’s wedding is actually stressing other people out. Swift is facing a fresh wave of online criticism after reports claim the pop star has filed a permit request to close streets around New York City’s Madison Square Garden from July 2 through midday July 4. The move has fueled speculation that the pop superstar’s long-rumored wedding to NFL star Travis Kelce could be taking place at the iconic venue.
The reported street closures came from TMZ and quickly sparked backlash across social media, where some critics accused Swift of prioritizing a lavish celebrity event over the convenience of everyday New Yorkers during one of the busiest holiday weekends of the year. One viral post from an Ariana Grande fan account with 7 million views even called Swift “the worst kind of famous person lmao,” saying the billionaire singer could have chosen a more secluded location rather than disrupting a major transportation hub.
“With all that money could’ve easily gone to a private island, or anywhere nice,” the user X wrote. “But no, let’s go ahead and inconvenience everyday working class people for 3 days and get married in NYC.” The criticism intensified after reports suggested the permit request would affect the area surrounding Madison Square Garden and Penn Station, one of the nation’s busiest transit centers.
Some critics also argued that the timing was particularly problematic given the Fourth of July holiday, New York City’s celebrations marking America’s 250th anniversary, and the ongoing FIFA World Cup festivities in the region. “Yeah sure, inconvenience thousands of people and clog up traffic around the 4th of July in the biggest city in the country,” one commenter wrote. Another added, “It’s just a wedding. They aren’t royalty.”
Not the first city closed for a celebrity?
New York City Hall officials have confirmed that permit applications were filed for an event near Madison Square Garden with an expected attendance between 500 and 999 people. However, neither Swift nor Kelce has publicly confirmed wedding plans, leaving fans and critics alike debating an event that, for now, remains unannounced.
Still, many fans and defenders pushed back against the outrage against Swift and Kelce’s supposed wedding, noting that New York routinely closes streets for parades, concerts, sporting events, and other large gatherings. Several fans pointed out that the reported closure area appears limited and that city officials have stated such permits are not unusual for major events.
One could also argue that Swift would be bringing millions of dollars into the local economy through hotel bookings, event staffing, and tourism spending. Funnily enough, Dua Lipa notably did the same for an area in Palermo, Sicily, locking down public spaces for the couple and their 200 celebrity guests. The move has not just sparked online outrage but street protests as well.
