The red carpet has finally been unrolled for the long-awaited declaration of the Greatest Pop Star of the Century, a journey marked by constant debates and debacles over who truly deserves the crown. With Taylor Swift securing the second spot, it was not exactly rocket science to guess who claimed the ultimate honor. However, the official announcement for Beyoncé was peppered with a striking 13 references to Swift. While some may wonder what it is about Swift’s approach that makes her such a fixture in another artist’s achievement, fans were absolutely beside themselves over the way the announcement unfolded.

After weeks of nail-biting tension, Billboard recently declared Beyoncé the greatest pop star of the century, citing her 25 years of “influence, impact, and evolution.” The article dubs Taylor Swift, the greatest pop star of the 21st century by statistics, from album sales to streams. Still, Beyoncé was allegedly crowned the top star of the season for the indelible mark she has left as a cultural touchstone. However, with Swift rounding out the announcement 13 times, fans could not help but wonder why Queen Bey’s achievement was downplayed like that.

The seemingly intractable issue over who deserves to sit on the throne of the greatest pop star of the century has finally come to a halt. Although the divisive topic still has fandoms split, pop enthusiasts cannot help but raise eyebrows over the treatment of Beyoncé. Fans always knew that the real tug-of-war was between Taylor Swift and Queen Bey, but none really acknowledged that the official declaration would look more like a shade than an honor.

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While some argue that the outlet went into overdrive to justify their choice, others contend that the decision was perhaps inherently flawed, relying on a staggering 13 references to Taylor Swift to prop up their argument.

For months, fans have been throwing their picks in the ring over who would finally bag the Greatest Pop Star of the 21st Century honor home. Even though the discussion always became heated when Beyoncé and Taylor Swift were brought up, the final announcement was no exception. As a result, fans believe the assessment was practically unfair since it came with 13 reasons why Swift reigned the statistics the entire time.

Fans found the situation quite dazing, with some sympathizing with Queen Bey for having her spotlight stolen despite the milestone.

On the flip side, Swifties could not help but troll the article for basically disregarding every official number to go with their decision. As scathing critiques and biting remarks poured in from all corners of the globe, a notable absence of infighting among fans stood out. While the artists’ have time and again left many agog, the crowning left a spellbound audience bewildered but not entirely in awe.

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What do you think of fans' reaction to Taylor Swift's references in honoring Beyoncé as the greatest pop star? Let us know in the comments below!