Todd Rundgren Calls Taylor Swift the 'Apotheosis of Mediocrity'
Billboard • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Todd Rundgren criticized Taylor Swift in a Vulture interview, calling her the “apotheosis of mediocrity” and claiming she “ruined music.”
- He stated Swift is neither a great singer, songwriter, nor dancer, and suggested he would spoof her if he made a parody album.
- Rundgren praised Lady Gaga as a “real musician” and theorized female pop stars rose to prominence due to young men spending more on video games in the 1990s.
- Swift has not responded to Rundgren’s remarks but previously acknowledged and respected subjective opinions on art during a 2025 interview.
- The comments coincided with Swift’s recent release of The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore, featuring new tracks and a music video premiered at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards.
