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Singer Taylor Swift's new music video for her single "Lavender Haze" has just dropped and transgender model Laith Ashley's role as Swift's love interest has been hailed as a huge win for LGBTQ+ representation.
"Lavender Haze" is the second single from Swift's 2022 album Midnights, and Swift wrote and directed the music video herself.
In a tweet, Swift called Ashley an "incredible costar" whom she "absolutely adored working with," adding:
This was the first video I wrote out of the 3 that have been released, and this one really helped me conceptualize the world and mood of Midnights, like a sultry sleepless 70’s fever dream. Hope you like it."
You can see Swift's tweets below.
\u201cThis was the first video I wrote out of the 3 that have been released, and this one really helped me conceptualize the world and mood of Midnights, like a sultry sleepless 70\u2019s fever dream. Hope you like it \ud83d\ude01\n\nhttps://t.co/auFTSVBP0A\u201d— Taylor Swift (@Taylor Swift) 1674795974
The video portrays Ashley as the object of Swift's desire as they wake up in bed together. Ashley also appears as a handsome television weatherman who courts Swift in her fantasies.
You can watch the music video and see Ashley's appearance below.
Taylor Swift - Lavender Hazeyoutu.be
The thrilled Ashley later thanked Swift in a tweet of his own, writing:
"Thank you so much [Taylor Swift] for allowing me to play a small part in your story. You are brilliant and this is an experience I will never forget."
You can see his tweet below.
\u201cThank you so much @taylorswift13 for allowing me to play a small part in your story. You are brilliant and this is an experience I will never forget.\u201d— Laith Ashley De La Cruz (@Laith Ashley De La Cruz) 1674796914
GLAAD’s director of trans representation Alex Schmider called Ashley's inclusion in Swift's video “A big moment for representation in many ways" noting the importance of Ashley "appearing to be a character of Taylor’s desire no less."
\u201cMost of the trans men I know are Swifties. It\u2019s incredible to see @laith_ashley as a part of the Midnights music videos, and appearing to be a character of Taylor\u2019s desire no less. A big moment for representation in many ways. #TSmidnighTS\u201d— alex schmider (@alex schmider) 1666329066
Swifties—as Swift's fans refer to themselves—were thrilled with the news and also congratulated Ashley.
\u201cWe love you! The video is just gorgeous! \ud83d\udc9c\u201d— tfae (@tfae) 1674797798
\u201cYou\u2019re everything \ud83d\ude0d\u201d— Jay Williams (@Jay Williams) 1674798449
\u201cyou did amazing! we love you!\u201d— ema (evermore era) (@ema (evermore era)) 1674808578
\u201cI love this so much. Taylor sets a high bar when it comes to representation for the LGBTQ community and she does it in a way that is more than meets the eye. Brain candy.\u201d— Elliot Indigo (@Elliot Indigo) 1674836892
\u201cYOU ARE BRILLIANT.\u201d— rylee grace\ud83e\udea9 (@rylee grace\ud83e\udea9) 1674797352
\u201cAbsolutely GORGEOUS \ud83d\udc4f\ud83c\udffb\ud83e\udef6\ud83c\udffc\ud83d\udc9c this music video is breathtaking.\u201d— Jae (Taylor's Version)\u2728 (@Jae (Taylor's Version)\u2728) 1674796983
Ashley—whose full name is Laith Ashley De La Cruz—is Dominican-American and hails from New York City. He began his transition process in 2014 and found fame as a model after transgender actress and activist Laverne Cox reposted his images on her Instagram account.
Ashley went on to appear in modeling campaigns for Barneys, Calvin Klein, and Diesel and appeared in a number of fashion shows including the Gypsy Sport catwalk at New York Fashion Week and the Marco Marco Fashion Show at L.A. Style.
As an actor, Ashley has appeared in music videos and films and has been celebrated by fans of RuPaul's Drag Race fans as the first transgender member of the pit crew.