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Taylor Swift’s SMASHED guitar hits eBay with $100 minimum bid after auction winner paid $4K for it

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Taylor Swift's SMASHED guitar hits eBay with $100 minimum bid after auction winner paid $4K for it

As someone who has grown up with Taylor Swift’s melodious tunes serenading my youth, I must say I was taken aback by the recent events at this Texas auction. It seems like the divide between political ideologies is not only affecting our country but also causing a rift in the world of pop stardom.

A Taylor Swift-themed guitar, which became popular due to a viral video, is now being listed on eBay. This guitar was reportedly broken by its purchaser during an auction as a protest against Taylor Swift not publicly supporting Donald Trump.

The story surrounding the guitar went viral, as a 67-year-old man named Gary Estes was seen on TikTok clobbering the guitar with a hammer Saturday in Waxahachie, Texas at the Ellis County WildGame Dinner.

The damaged musical instrument was listed on eBay, with the description, ‘Man bought this signed Taylor Swift Guitar at a charity auction for $4000, then proceeded to smash it with a hammer. The video went viral on multiple platforms worldwide.

He’s returned the guitar to the foundation for sale on eBay. The earnings from this sale will be used to support agricultural education programs for underprivileged children in our community.

The item’s description mentioned that it required a starting bid of $100, and by Tuesday evening, bids had escalated to $2,600. With less than a week remaining, the notice highlighted that the guitar includes an Authenticity Certificate.

Taylor Swift's SMASHED guitar hits eBay with $100 minimum bid after auction winner paid $4K for it

Taylor Swift's SMASHED guitar hits eBay with $100 minimum bid after auction winner paid $4K for it
Taylor Swift's SMASHED guitar hits eBay with $100 minimum bid after auction winner paid $4K for it

Initially sold at auction, the guitar came with a document verifying its authenticity, stating it had been personally autographed by Taylor Swift, according to TMZ. However, this certificate was missing the usual seal found on such documents.

A source within Swift’s merchandise team has pointed out that the product description is incorrect because the guitar isn’t actually signed, contrary to what the listing images suggest. Moreover, it was not accompanied by a certificate verifying its authenticity.

According to a confidential informant, they shared with Variety on Tuesday that the guitar displayed in the auction clip wasn’t autographed by Taylor Swift… Furthermore, it wasn’t an authentic instrument that she had utilized during her performances.

In the video, Estes struck the Swift-themed musical device, causing a surge of applause from the audience.

Craig Meier, the auctioneer, instructed Estes by saying, “Go ahead and put away that broken instrument now.” After that, he strolled away with the guitar.

Estes told NBC News Tuesday of the incident.

Estes clarified that what happened at the auction was merely a humorous gesture intended to raise funds for children’s welfare. He emphasized that there was no malicious intent behind it, and it was simply an impromptu joke played on stage.

Meier explained to the media outlet, “It was a humorous, casual incident. I understand it might have appeared malicious, but everyone present was chuckling. Some even joked that he’s upset because he can’t master the guitar.

Taylor Swift's SMASHED guitar hits eBay with $100 minimum bid after auction winner paid $4K for it

Meier noted that the occurrence with the guitar seemed to carry political implications, given it occurred a month following the presidential election, during which Taylor Swift endorsed Kamala Harris instead of Donald Trump.

In simpler terms, Meier stated that Taylor Swift’s political stance became more prominent, and he saw it as a playful jab, implying that Taylor was making a political statement, and artists often use their platform to shape political opinions.

Despite the costly instrument now being unusable, Estes still happily walked off with his prize.

All the $4,000 was donated to a charitable cause, specifically for the Ellis County Wild Game Dinner, an annual event that contributes to the agricultural and rural education of the area’s young people.

A TikTok user shared a video with the ‘A man purchased a Taylor Swift-autographed guitar at a live auction for $4,000 and then damaged it. #TaylorSwift #Trump2024 #Trump #TaylorNation #Swifties #Republican #TrumpSupporters #Trump #Texas #Feeling22 #TrumpTrain.’

According to TMZ’s report, it was the Ellis County Wild Game Dinner organization who donated Taylor Swift’s guitar to the auction before she endorsed Kamala Harris for president.

The item was given by someone else with no intention of being damaged, but unfortunately, the purchaser chose to break it, according to the seller’s statement.

At the auction, attendee Rob Bartley recounted to The Independent about the guitar-breaking incident: “It wasn’t unusual to find a Taylor Swift guitar being auctioned off, as one had already been sold at another event earlier in the year.

Taylor Swift's SMASHED guitar hits eBay with $100 minimum bid after auction winner paid $4K for it
Taylor Swift's SMASHED guitar hits eBay with $100 minimum bid after auction winner paid $4K for it

To put it another way, when he declared his plan to destroy it, suddenly everyone whipped out their cameras. It wasn’t something that people were anticipating, but considering the region’s strong conservative leanings and the lack of support for the Biden/Harris administration, it didn’t come as a complete shock.

Bartley went on to say, “Many folks living in my community believe that the administration has shifted from being on our side to actively working against us.

Shortly following the 2024 presidential election, which pitted the incumbent vice president against Trump, Swift publicly endorsed Harris.

Similar to many of you, I tuned in to the debate tonight. If you haven’t yet, now could be an excellent opportunity for you to delve deeper into the issues being discussed and understand each candidate’s viewpoints on the subjects that resonate strongly with you. Just as I do, as a voter, I always strive to gather as much information as possible about their proposed policies and visions for our nation.

‘Recently I was made aware that AI of “me” falsely endorsing Donald Trump’s presidential run was posted to his site. It really conjured up my fears around AI, and the dangers of spreading misinformation. 

Swift stated, “I realized it’s crucial to clearly disclose my genuine intentions regarding this election, as a voter. The best defense against misinformation is truthfulness,” she further noted.

She noted that ‘I’m voting for @kamalaharris because she fights for the rights and causes I believe need a warrior to champion them. 

Swift stated: ‘I believe she’s an accomplished, steady leader with great skills, and I’m convinced that our country could achieve even greater things under her calm leadership rather than chaos. I was genuinely encouraged and impressed by the choice of her running mate, @timwalz, who has been a strong advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, IVF, and a woman’s autonomy over her own body for many years.’

Taylor Swift's SMASHED guitar hits eBay with $100 minimum bid after auction winner paid $4K for it

‘I’ve done my research, and I’ve made my choice. Your research is all yours to do, and the choice is yours to make. I also want to say, especially to first time voters: Remember that in order to vote, you have to be registered! 

I also find it’s much easier to vote early. I’ll link where to register and find early voting dates and info in my story,’ she wrote.

She ended it: ‘With love and hope, Taylor Swift Childless Cat Lady.’

A few days later, Trump posted to Truth Social: ‘I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT!’

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2024-10-02 09:04

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