Two climate change protestors associated with the activist group Just Stop Oil have spray painted several private jets with the intent of targeting Taylor Swift’s plane.
The organization wrote in a tweet posted early Thursday morning (June 20th) that the activists, Jennifer Kowalski and Cole Macdonald, gained entry to the airfield by cutting through the fence while under the belief that Swift’s private jet had just arrived.
Once on the property, they used fire extinguishers filled with orange paint to mark a number of aircraft. As written in their tweet, the actions are intended to pressure the UK government to “end the extraction and burning of oil, gas, and coal by 2030.” The two were detained by Essex police shortly after.
“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,” Macdonald said in a statement. “Meanwhile, 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.”
Kowalski added. “Over the years, I’ve had to realize that even working in sustainability provides me with essentially no ability to make the necessary changes to prevent the complete collapse of our natural systems. I have to take desperate measures to make my voice heard. In 2024 we all have to be considering what we can do each day to change the course our society is on. We need an emergency treaty to stop the extraction and burning of oil, gas, and coal by 2030.”
As reported by The Independent, police sources were informed that Swift’s Falcon 7x jet had not yet reached Stansted Airport. Flight tracking data, however, appears to indicate that the aircraft had arrived around 11:00 p.m. on June 19th.
For the past few years, the Tortured Poets Department artist has been the subject of criticism related to what many consider excessive use of her private jet. In addition to memes galore, a University of Central Florida student named Jack Sweeney created a popular Twitter account dedicated to logging the flights of several celebrities, including Swift.
Sweeney’s data contributed to a 2022 report naming Swift the “biggest celebrity CO2e polluter this year so far,” leading Swift’s lawyers to send the student a cease and desist letter.
The day before targeting Swift’s jet, Just Stop Oil made similar headlines and drew heavy criticism after spraying orange paint powder onto Stonehenge.
Swift’s “Era’s Tour” is scheduled to continue in Europe and the United States throughout the rest of the year.
🚨 JUST STOP OIL PAINT PRIVATE JETS HOURS AFTER TAYLOR SWIFT’S LANDS
🔥 Jennifer and Cole cut the fence into the private airfield at Stansted where @taylorswift13‘s jet is parked, demanding an emergency treaty to end fossil fuels by 2030.
💸 Donate — pic.twitter.com/aORdvUuQmU
— Just Stop Oil (@JustStop_Oil) June 20, 2024
