Taylor Swift's security team has been praised for the way they handled the paparazzi during one of the singer's recent appearances.
Swift's security were vigilant during her arrival at a Chiefs game. Credit: David Eulitt / Getty
At Arrowhead Stadium last Sunday, pop superstar Swift does what she always does: Turned heads.
Swift was in attendance to cheer on her boyfriend, Travis Kelce, as his team the Kansas City Chiefs as they clashed with the Denver Broncos.
However, as Swift arrived at the stadium in her striking tweed Versace outfit, her team were captured on camera giving a particular command to photographers.
In the videos - which have quickly made the rounds online - Swift’s bodyguards can be heard sternly instructing the photographers: "Stand up!" Their directive came as photographers, in their usual fashion, were kneeling to snap the perfect shot of the singer as she approached.
Swift could even be seen slowing her walk toward the photographers until they had complied and rose to their feet.
This moment sparked a flurry of speculation and support from fans on social media, with many 'Swifties' suggesting the security's intervention was to prevent potential 'upskirting' — an act of taking unauthorized photographs under a person’s clothing.
Commenting on the video, shared by E News, one fan wrote: "Good job bodyguards for having the photogs stand up."
Another praised: "No up the skirt shots good job bodyguards."
"Respect for the bodyguard. Stand up [no] up skirt shots for you," a third commented.
Another suggested that the video should have a different caption, typing: "The caption is a miss. What you should say is 'Taylor swift’s security protecting her from paparazzi who try to get revealing photos.'"
Sadly, this was a practice all to common in the tabloids back in the 90s and 00s, and this incident highlights a grim reality for many public figures - particularly women - who often find themselves vulnerable to invasive photography.
Historically, paparazzi have exploited opportunities to capture revealing images of female celebrities, especially during moments as mundane as exiting a car.
The term 'upskirting' describes this violation, which is not just distasteful but also illegal in many jurisdictions.
Taylor Swift is often pursued by photographers. Credit: Jamie Squire / Getty
In the UK, the fight against upskirting gained significant ground in 2019, thanks to activist Gina Martin, who campaigned for its criminalization after being targeted herself while at a music festival.
Elsewhere during last Sunday's game, Swift was also praised for the way she spoke to her security team - emphasizing the need for good manners.
Footage from the event shows the moment Swift exited the cart, as a security guard began to clear a path by urging photographers to "Stay back!"
Swift then chimed in with a courteous, "Stay back, please" - putting extra emphasis on the "please" and proving that manners never go out of style.
The clip of her polite request buzzed through social media, sparking a wave of admiration from fans
"Taylor bringing her own kind of game day energy! Keeping it cool and classy as always," one fan wrote.
A second added: "Manners matter, even in security. Thanks for the class act, Taylor!"
For now, let's hope we can make this misogynistic and gross trend a thing of the past.