In a recent demonstration, Just Stop Oil activists targeted a private airfield where they claim Taylor Swift’s jet had recently landed. The protest involved painting aircraft with orange paint at Stansted Airport.
According to Just Stop Oil, two activists, Jennifer Kowalski, 28, and Cole Macdonald, 22, entered the airport at around 5 a.m. on Thursday. They attempted to identify Taylor Swift’s plane but ended up painting two random jets with fire extinguishers filled with orange paint. The group alleges that the American pop star’s jet had arrived at the airport’s private terminal just hours before their demonstration.
Taylor Swift is set to perform at Wembley Stadium on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Macdonald, from Brighton, East Sussex, explained the motivation behind their actions: “We’re living in two worlds: one where billionaires live in luxury, able to fly in private jets away from the other, where unlivable conditions are being imposed on countless millions. This system that is allowing extreme wealth to be accrued by a few, to the detriment of everyone else, is destroying the conditions necessary to support human life in a rapidly accelerating never-ending ‘cruel summer.’ Billionaires are not untouchable, climate breakdown will affect every single one of us.”
A spokesperson for Just Stop Oil added: “Whilst governments are allowing oil corporations to run amok destroying our communities, the actions of individuals mean very little. That’s why Just Stop Oil is demanding that our next government sign up to a legally binding treaty to phase out fossil fuels by 2030. Failure to defend the people they represent will mean Just Stop Oil supporters, along with citizens from Austria, Canada, Norway, the Netherlands, and Switzerland, will join in resistance this summer if their own governments do not take meaningful action.”
This incident follows another controversial protest by the group at Stonehenge, where two members sprayed orange powder on the ancient stone circle on the eve of the summer solstice. This action sparked widespread condemnation from public figures including JK Rowling, Rishi Sunak, and Sir Keir Starmer. Wiltshire Police arrested the activists, identified as Niamh Lynch, 21, and Rajan Naidum, 73, on suspicion of damaging the monument.
English Heritage described the Stonehenge incident as “extremely upsetting” and has launched an investigation into the damage. Despite this, Stonehenge remains open to visitors.
Taylor Swift was contacted for comment.
