Anti-alcohol campaigner James Swanwick has been slammed as a ‘misogynist’ after criticising Taylor Swift over ‘chugging beer’ for the camera at the Super Bowl.
James, who has been sober for 12 years, was disappointed to see the superstar pick up a jug and scull it when the camera panned to her in the million-dollar VIP box during the big game.
The 48-year-old, who considers himself a Swiftie, claims he lost 1,600 followers in 24 hours after posting about the Anti-Hero hitmaker’s game day action.
‘Taylor Swift downing alcohol on National TV and thinking it’s cool or funny is idiotic and shameful in my opinion,’ he said.
‘She’s just perpetuated the mistaken belief that alcohol is desirable.’
James Swanwick slammed Taylor for downing a drink when she was on the Jumbotron
James has been sober 12 years – he is a Swiftie and says she is an amazing role model but her behaviour left him feeling disappointed
Speaking to FEMAIL in the aftermath of the viral post, James admitted using the term ‘shameful’ might have been too much – and he could have described the moment using different words.
But he firmly believes Taylor did the wrong thing by chugging the beer at the star-studded event as millions of people tuned in on her account.
‘Intentionally chugging beer on the Jumbotron, and being proud of it, perpetuates the mistaken and destructive belief that drinking alcohol is funny, cool and desirable,’ he said.
READ MORE: See the best accessories and outfits for every Era – and they’ll arrive at your door within 48 hours
‘When in actual fact alcohol is just attractively packaged poison and just one drink per day has been shown to have a degenerative affect on the brain.’
James stressed that he thinks Taylor is an amazing role model, but her behaviour at the Super Bowl ‘fell short’.
‘She can do whatever she wants behind closed doors,’ he said.
‘But I am disappointed that she intentionally glamourised drinking on international TV while millions of children were watching.’
James went on to say Taylor Swift’s relationship with Travis Kelce has trained millions of young female eyes on the NFL.
It has also enticed many of those to watch the Super Bowl – so much so that female-centric brands like Dove even advertised during the big game.
‘Young girls might now think that chugging alcohol is glamorous, or funny or cool,’ he said, worried.
Some people slammed James – sending him messages to criticise his public stance
Another sent him this message
Others said he needs to watch what he says to women
James has previously slammed George Clooney, The Rock and Ryan Reynolds for glamourising alcohol – but his posts have never attracted so much controversy.
‘I was surprised by the reaction to my post. I was watching it – in the first hour 100 followers were gone, in the second hour 100 followers were gone, I lost 1,600 in 24 hours,’ he said.
‘The irony is I love Taylor Swift. I am trying to get tickets to the concerts in London.’
James was inundated with messages from Swifties who labelled him a misogynist, revealed they would be unfollowing him and told him to leave her alone.
Others let him know they would no longer be subscribing
‘Don’t ever put women down, ever,’ one woman wrote.
‘Shaming a woman for having a drink? You and me not drinking alcohol is fine – but berating people for having a non-specified drink is not. And the misogyny.’
Another told him to ‘give Taylor a break’.
‘The misognystic undercurrents here are gross. She doesn’t answer to you.’
A third said: ‘Who made you God to judge her?’
But others congratulated him for calling her out.
‘Millions of little girls will be chugging beer because of that. It is sad but true,’ one woman agreed.
But many messaged to let him know they agreed with what he had said
Others thanked him for coming forward with his views
‘I have a 17-year-old daughter who is obsessed with Taylor Swift, and to see her downing alcohol that way was disappointing. She is a very influential lady and ye while that may be hard for her she still has a responsibility,’ said another.
James has been sober since 2012, after deciding one day as he suffered a terrible hangover to go 30 days without drinking.
In 2015 he started a business aimed at helping people to quit or cut down their alcohol consumption.
Now he has a 90-Day program dubbed Alcohol Free Lifestyle to help people quit booze for good.
READ MORE: Are you ready for it? Taylor Swift touches down in Melbourne on her luxury private jet ahead of her first n Eras Tour show at the MCG
