Watch Taylor Swift Nearly Sob in Concert on Anniversary of Sexual Assault Ruling
Taylor Swift nearly broke down in tears Tuesday night (August 14) during a tour stop in Tampa as she chronicled her experience confronting sexual assault on the anniversary of the ruling of her 2017 groping trial.
In August 2017, after a six-day trail in Denver, a jury ruled that local DJ David Mueller was guilty of assault and battery from an incident in 2013, when he groped Swift during a meet-and-greet photo opportunity. Mueller initially sued Swift after the singer's accusations, saying he'd lost income for having been fired. Swift, in turn, counter-sued for a single dollar.
“A year ago I was not playing in a stadium in Tampa, I was in a courtroom in Denver, Colorado,” Swift told the audience. “This is the day the jury sided in my favor and said that they believed me. I guess I just think about all the people that weren’t believed and the people who haven’t been believed, and the people who are afraid to speak up because they think they won’t be believed."
Swift added that the experience made her a more compassionate and empathetic person.
“I just wanted to say I’m sorry to anyone who ever wasn’t believed because I don’t know what turn my life would have taken if somebody didn’t believe me when I said something had happened to me," she said. “So I just wanted to say we have so much further to go, and I’m so grateful to you guys for being there for me for what was really a horrible part of my life."
Finally, amid cheers, Swift thanked those who supported her.
“I wanted to thank you for just kind of… I mean I know when I meet you guys at meet-and-greets and after the shows, you guys tell me about the hard times that you’ve gone through in your lives and I really appreciate you trusting me with that information," she said. “And you know you guys have seen me go through so many ups and downs in my life just due to the public nature of the way my life is, and I just wanted to say that I’m so happy to see you and to have you and know you through the ups and the downs in my life...Sorry I just haven’t really talked about it, and so I’m just not composed at all,” Swift added before continuing with her set."
And as she wrapped up, fans held up $1 bills in solidarity.