In a teaser trailer released for one of the videos for her new album Midnights, singer Taylor Swift is seen to reach over and touch a man's back.
That man, as her fans realized quickly, is trans model Laith Ashley.
Upon being touched in the video, Laith's back seems to light up in a rainbow.
You can see the teaser here:
\u201cHere\u2019s the teaser trailer for the videos I\u2019ve made for Midnights \ud83c\udf0c Thank you @amazonmusic for premiering this, the first video for Anti-Hero will be out tomorrow at 8am ET. And Midnights will be here SO SOON!!!\nhttps://t.co/jjqUNkpPke\u201d— Taylor Swift (@Taylor Swift) 1666319842
Swift's fans celebrated the release of the teaser trailer as well as Swift's choice of leading man in the video.
\u201cTaylor Swift having Laith Ashley play her love interest in a Midnights music video is so beautiful and important.\n\nA transgender actor and model is starring in a Taylor Swift music video!\u201d— Alex Goldschmidt (@Alex Goldschmidt) 1666324116
For some fans, it was the first time they had heard of Laith Ashley.
\u201cgotta say \u2018thank you\u2019 to taylor swift for introducing me to laith ashley \ud83e\udd2d\u201d— dakota (@dakota) 1666332704
\u201cPeople discovering Laith Ashley because of Taylor's music video is so cool. Trans guys definitely deserve more representation. Didn't think I could love Taylor more but here we are.\u201d— \u2664\ud835\udfdc\u210d\ud835\udd4e & \ud835\udd4a\ud835\udd59\ud835\udd52\ud835\udd6a\ud835\udd5f\ud835\udd52 \ud835\udd4a\ud835\udd59\ud835\udd5a\ud835\udd5d\ud835\udd5d\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\u26a7\ufe0f\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08 (@\u2664\ud835\udfdc\u210d\ud835\udd4e & \ud835\udd4a\ud835\udd59\ud835\udd52\ud835\udd6a\ud835\udd5f\ud835\udd52 \ud835\udd4a\ud835\udd59\ud835\udd5a\ud835\udd5d\ud835\udd5d\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\u26a7\ufe0f\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08) 1666325879
\u201cgod bless taylor swift for introducing me to laith ashley this man has fixed all of my problems and reassured me that i can still feel sexual attraction and my last heartbreak didn't ruin that for me permanently\u201d— took this dagger in me & removed it (@took this dagger in me & removed it) 1666332487
Others commented on the how good Swift's choice of leading man was for representation for trans men.
\u201cThe new Taylor Swift music video has a trans actor named Laith Ashley in it and I am so thankful. \ud83d\udc96\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\u26a7\ufe0f\u201d— Lucy \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\u26a7\ufe0f (@Lucy \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\u26a7\ufe0f) 1666386208
\u201c@TrippOrtizBro Trans guys are taking over.\n\nLove it for you guys honestly\u201d— \u2664\ud835\udfdc\u210d\ud835\udd4e & \ud835\udd4a\ud835\udd59\ud835\udd52\ud835\udd6a\ud835\udd5f\ud835\udd52 \ud835\udd4a\ud835\udd59\ud835\udd5a\ud835\udd5d\ud835\udd5d\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\u26a7\ufe0f\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08 (@\u2664\ud835\udfdc\u210d\ud835\udd4e & \ud835\udd4a\ud835\udd59\ud835\udd52\ud835\udd6a\ud835\udd5f\ud835\udd52 \ud835\udd4a\ud835\udd59\ud835\udd5a\ud835\udd5d\ud835\udd5d\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\u26a7\ufe0f\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08) 1666325879
\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
And then there was the commentary on the fact Ashley is quite handsome.
\u201c@ThePopTingz One thing about Taylor is she's always going to have the most handsome men on earth in her music videos\u201d— Pop Tingz (@Pop Tingz) 1666323328
\u201c@squid7000 wow, who gave him permission to be that goddamn beautiful??\u201d— \ud83c\udf38 sydney \ud83c\udf38 (@\ud83c\udf38 sydney \ud83c\udf38) 1666320438
\u201c@ThePopTingz Taylor share your men with us challenge\u201d— Pop Tingz (@Pop Tingz) 1666323328
As this is a Taylor Swift album release, the teasers and subsequent fan reactions will be sure to happen more and more, hopefully with more of this videos leading man.
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