Dear Taylor,

I couldn’t help but notice that you’ve been a hot-button topic in recent weeks – given your current star power and the fact that you were trending across multiple social media sites for multiple days, this should come as no surprise. I’m almost certain that this letter most likely will never find its way to you, but in case it does, I would like to preface this by saying that everything I’m about to say comes from a place of concern. I’ve been a fan of yours and your music for years, and develop a new respect for you with every venture you have, whether that’s an album or something else. However, I can’t say that I’ve been a fan of your actions or what you’ve been saying over the past several weeks.

The “certain thing” that I’m going to focus on here is the alleged video proof of you approving Kanye West’s lyrics about you. I saw the video. My honest opinion is that I hardly believe the video proved much of anything. With that being said, I refuse to take a side on this issue. Many people believe that Kim finally “exposed” you and your antics. Your most loyal fans will stick by your side no matter what. But I, myself, cannot bring myself to take a side for multiple reasons, the main one being that I don’t know all the facts, I know next to nothing about the situation, and so who am I to pass judgment on either party?

I will say, though, that I have a lot of respect for Kim for feeling the responsibility to defend her husband and what she perceives the truth to be, just like I respect you for defending what you perceive the truth to be. What I’m so incredibly weary of seeing are people, such as you and Kim, constantly trying to tear each other down, both professionally and personally. You both, as well as everyone else who have had any kind of success, have worked so hard to get to where you are. It’s infuriating seeing any two individuals trying to take that away from each other, and I can’t imagine the frustration of being pushed down by someone else.

I’ve noticed that this has been a trend for you in your career – being pushed down by someone more successful than you are for the sake of making themselves feel bigger. I used to feel for you and think of how unfair that is for someone bigger than you to make you feel small (“Mean” has always been one of my favorite songs). But I always rooted for you, especially whenever you picked yourself back up and came back bigger and better and more powerful than before. You were the true definition of an underdog, and it was truly inspiring. And here you are, a massive superstar, with an impressive following and an immensely lucrative career. Then something strange happened – you started doing the exact same thing people have been doing to you your whole life. You became vindictive and you let your status make you almost unreachable. You began to try and tear people down who have worked so hard for their success for your own personal gain.

It is never okay to take away something that someone worked so hard for. It is never okay to bring people down to put yourself ahead. I don’t care who you are or where you came from – it’s never okay to push other people down to build yourself up, and I know this is something that you are all too familiar with. The thing that mystifies me the most is the fact that you are still stuck in the mindset of trying to assume a humble persona, despite the prideful nature of your actions. You cannot be vindictive and humble at the same time. Vindication comes from pride, and pride is birthed from misplaced confidence. You are on a slippery slope towards flat out arrogance, and I would hate for you – someone who is so well-respected and successful in the industry – to be someone that people think to be arrogant.

Without overstepping any boundary, I’d like to offer up some advice. You’ve been in the spotlight for a little over a decade now, with your stardom exponentially soaring every minute. You’ve essentially been touring and making music nonstop for the past ten years. On top of all of this, you are endlessly scrutinized for your professional, romantic, and personal life. I can’t imagine how exhausted you must be at this point. For your own sanity, I strongly urge you to take a break and just live your life away from the limelight for awhile. Rediscover who you are without the headlines and the camera flashes. Live your life without feeling the urge or obligation to write a song. Allow enough time to pass for people to miss you. Once you’re rejuvenated, come back and start your career again with a brand new mindset and a clean slate.

Until then, I’ll be sitting in coffee shops listening to your music, remembering and yearning for those much simpler times.