Climate Activists Try – And Fail – To Spray Paint Taylor Swift’s Private Jet Orange To Protest Her ‘Excessive’ Carbon Use

Two activists from the climate justice group, Just Stop Oil, have targeted the private jets of the wealthy elite – now they are after global superstar Taylor Swift. 

The protesters, identified as Jennifer Kowalski and Cole Macdonald, broke into a London airport’s private airfield and proceeded to spray bright orange paint on the aircraft parked there. The incident, which took place at Stansted Airport in London, aimed to draw attention to the ultra-wealthy’s outsized carbon footprint and the urgent need for action to address the climate crisis.

While Swift’s jet was not present then, the activists’ message was clear: the wealthy few’s excessive use of private jets has exacerbated the environmental crisis, and drastic measures are necessary to compel change.

In a statement, Kowalski expressed her frustration with the limited ability to enact meaningful change within the current system and stated, “I have to take desperate measures to make my voice heard.” Macdonald echoed these sentiments and highlighted the stark contrast between the lavish lifestyles of the wealthy and the mounting consequences of climate change for the general population: “Billionaires are not untouchable; climate breakdown will affect every single one of us.”

The Essex Police have since confirmed the arrest of the two individuals, who have been charged with criminal damage and interference with the operation of national infrastructure. Chief Superintendent Simon Anslow emphasized the authorities’ stance and stated, “We are not anti-protest, but we will always take action where criminal acts take place.”

Swift, who is scheduled to perform a series of concerts at London’s Wembley Stadium this weekend, has faced criticism for her private jet usage. A 2022 report by marketing agency Yard estimated that the singer’s plane had released over 8,000 metric tonnes of emissions, which made her the top celebrity polluter of the year. Swift’s representatives have challenged this narrative and argued that other individuals regularly use the jet. 

The Just Stop Oil activists’ actions are part of a broader campaign to pressure governments and corporations to take immediate action to address the climate crisis. The group’s goal is to secure an “equitable plan to end the extraction and burning of oil, gas and coal by 2030,” a deadline they believe is necessary to avert the worst consequences of global warming.

Swift has received more backlash after her album The Tortured Poets Department was released and met with a negative reaction. In an interview with Pet Shop Boys’ vocalist Neil Tennant, he described her music as “disappointing.” 

Earlier this month, a man was charged with voyeurism at a concert of Swift’s in Edinburgh, Scotland.