Taylor Swift has released a new music video paying homage to Dame Elizabeth Taylor, but the visual tribute has received a mixed response from fans. The video, which accompanies Swift's song titled after the late actress, premiered on Apple Music and Spotify on Tuesday.
The 36-year-old singer does not appear in the video herself. Instead, it features curated archive footage of Taylor, interspersed with clips from her iconic films such as Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966), Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958), Suddenly Last Summer (1959), and Cleopatra (1963). The video concludes with acknowledgements to the House of Taylor, the Elizabeth Taylor Trust, and the Todd and Wilding families.
Some fans expressed disappointment, with one writing: 'I'm disappointed in this video. Clipped together from Elizabeth Taylor movies. I was hoping for so much more.' Another said: 'I love you, Taylor, for life, but you could have invested in another type of a music video.' However, others praised the concept. One fan commented: 'This was the perfect video for this song & perfectly encapsulated the person the song was about. If Taylor was in it, portraying Elizabeth Taylor, it would have been weird & almost disrespectful?'
The song's lyrics reference Taylor's distinctive 'violet eyes' and 'white diamonds,' alluding to the actress's unique eye colour and extensive jewellery collection, which inspired her perfume White Diamonds. Swift previously expressed her admiration for Taylor, describing her as 'someone that I've looked up to' and a 'very glamorous, very beloved' figure. The track was inspired by a conversation with her fiancé, Travis Kelce.
'Elizabeth Taylor' is the third single from Swift's album The Life of a Showgirl, released on 3 October last year. The video is currently available on Spotify and Apple Music, with a YouTube release scheduled for Thursday.
