Recently, climate activists from the group Just Stop Oil made headlines when they vandalized private jets at Stansted Airport using spray paint. The group’s bold act was intended to demand an end to the use of fossil fuels by 2030. This incident occurred only a day after members of the same group sprayed paint made from cornstarch on Stonehenge, a UNESCO World Heritage site, drawing attention to their cause.
The Stansted Airport incident led to the arrest of two female protesters, aged 22 and 28. They were apprehended on suspicion of causing criminal damage and interference with national infrastructure. Despite circulating rumors, none of the targeted planes belonged to pop superstar Taylor Swift, whose plane was not present at the airport during the incident.
This wasn’t the first time Just Stop Oil activists targeted jets at Stansted Airport. Another pair of activists, Jennifer Kowalski and Cole Macdonald, had previously used the same location to highlight the carbon footprint of the wealthy. The duo was particularly critical of celebrities who frequently use private jets, a group that includes Taylor Swift.
Following their action, Kowalski and Macdonald were arrested and charged by the Essex Police. Their protest came on the heels of a report from Yard, a marketing agency, that named Taylor Swift as the top celebrity polluter of 2022. According to the report, Swift’s plane emissions were estimated to amount to over 8,000 metric tons.
Taylor Swift has been facing criticism not only for her environmental impact but also for her music. Neil Tennant, the vocalist of the Pet Shop Boys, recently described her album “Tortured Poets Department” as “disappointing.” Swift, however, has not publicly responded to either the environmental or musical criticism. While the debate continues, it’s clear that the actions of the Just Stop Oil group are gaining increasing attention for their call to end fossil fuel use by 2030.
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