Superstardom might come from pure hustle, but what really makes all that sweat and tears worthwhile? It is the never-say-die fan support that artists live for. Much has been said about Taylor Swift and the empire she has built with her hands, but even the tiniest bird in the tree knows her fandom has been the secret sauce to her success. But, like a double-edged sword, intense fan love can bring perks and pitfalls alike. Just ask Zach Bryan because he recently learned the hard way when Swifties, the fiercest fandom in town, came after him for one tiny blasphemy he committed while streaming her music.

Zach Bryan, the American singer-songwriter, recently hopped on X to show off his “Tuesday jam” playlist, sharing back-to-back screenshots of him streaming Taylor Swift’s 2008 album ‘Fearless’ and the 2018 banger ‘Reborn’ by Kids See Ghosts. While it sounds like a wholesome moment of musical support, Swifties’ glance was elsewhere. Instead of cheers, they quickly soured, throwing shade and questioning why he was not streaming Taylor’s Version—the re-recorded edition.

‘Fearless (Taylor’s Version)’ is the first of Taylor Swift’s re-recorded albums, dropped in April 2021—a full 13 years after the original. This re-recording spree came after her 2019 battle over the rights of her old masters. Until now, fans have mostly been on high alert for the missing ‘Reputation (Taylor’s Version)’ and ’Taylor Swift (Taylor’s Version)’ albums. But this might be the first time they have started calling out other artists for daring to stream the originals instead of the shiny new re-releases.

78-Year-Old Dolly Parton Calls Taylor Swift An "inspiration" for This One Reason

One does not have to be a rocket scientist to figure out that the Swifties' backlash comes from a place of genuine concern over the drama that pushed Swift to re-record her albums, in the first place. But the whole showdown was not all that impressive, especially since Zach Bryan did not even have beef with her to begin with.

Taylor Swift is out there living her best superstar life—breaking records, selling out world tours, and basically leaving her mark every award season in a way that fans cannot stop thinking about. But when her Swifties jumped on X to drag Zach Bryan for not streaming her re-records, even her glittering highlights could not stop the criticism he caught for his Tuesday jam session. 

While some fans politely pleaded with him, others were quick to throw shade, calling it the "stolen version" he dared to stream. However, some were definitely wooed by the selections.

Zach Bryan may have innocently posted his tweet, thinking it was just another chill Tuesday, but the fiery debate it sparked might make future streamers think twice. While this reaction could turn away an addition to the Taylor Swift fan club, considering Swift’s high-profile dispute over her master recordings is common knowledge, even if her fans are not too forgiving, Bryan might understand where the backlash is coming from, after all.

Swifties Flip Donald Trump’s Taylor Swift Diss Into $40,000 for Kamala Harris’ Campaign 

What do you think of Taylor Swift's fans' backlash for Zach Bryan for not streaming the re-records? Let us know in the comments below!