The Life of a Showgirl was destined for death

The Life of a Showgirl: A Divisive Album

Taylor Swift's 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl, has faced criticism and angst despite its commercial success.

By Felix Glanville, Film & TV Editor

The album has broken records for most physical copies sold in a week in the US and UK, most-streamed album and song in a single day on Spotify, and fastest album to achieve the biggest opening week in the UK.

However, a culture war has erupted online over Swift's artistic ability and the album's quality.

What went wrong for the generational pop star — and is it all fairly deserved?

Author's summary: Taylor Swift's album sparks controversy.

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Epigram Epigram — 2025-10-15

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