Josh Hutcherson Addresses “Swiftie” Backlash: “I Think She’s Great”
Hunger Games star Josh Hutcherson is setting the record straight after finding himself in the crosshairs of Taylor Swift’s dedicated fanbase.
The controversy began last December during a video for i-D Magazine, where Hutcherson was asked by co-star Jordan Firstman if he considered himself a “Swiftie.” While the actor expressed “all respect” for the “Fate of Ophelia” singer, he admitted he didn’t personally listen to her music—a comment that sparked immediate social media vitriol.
“Destroy Him! He’s Short!”
In a new interview with GQ published Monday, the 33-year-old actor recalled the aggressive response to his honesty. “All of a sudden, it garnered this, ‘F**k him! He’s a monster! Destroy him! He’s short! He hates her because he’s short!'” Hutcherson said, referencing his 5ft 5in stature.
Hutcherson was quick to clarify that his lack of “Swiftie” status wasn’t a slight against Taylor herself. “It’s just like, whoa! I think she’s great. Her music is not my kind of music,” he explained.
Avoiding the “Meme” Culture
The experience has only reinforced Hutcherson’s decision to stay away from the digital world. “That is why I don’t want to be online,” he noted. “I don’t need that energy. It’s counterintuitive to my job, because if people know you more, you can’t disappear into characters.”
He expressed concern that overexposure on social media can turn an actor into a caricature. “If you’re a f**king meme, people know you for the meme,” he added.
Return to Panem
While he may be avoiding the comments section, Hutcherson isn’t avoiding the big screen. He is set to make a highly anticipated cameo in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping. The sixth installment of the franchise is scheduled to hit theaters this November.