US News

Taylor Swift sings The Darkness hit at US Open, dubbed ‘cringe’

Justin Hawkins backs Taylor Swift's 'cringe' moment at US Open

The lead singer of The Darkness has responded to Taylor Swift being called ‘cringe’ after she was seen singing along to one of his band’s songs.

As a millennial, the term ‘cringe’ is often perceived negatively. For instance, the use of meta jokes, which were trendy in the 2010s, might be deemed cringe-worthy today.

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Taylor Swift was labelled ‘cringe’ for her enthusiastic sing-along to The Darkness’ hit song, ‘I Believe in a Thing Called Love’ at the US Open. Social media users quickly reacted, with one person tweeting, “Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are pure cringe at the US Open, this looks completely forced and unnatural.”

The Eras Tour might have felt jeopardised by this backlash. However, Justin Hawkins, the lead singer of The Darkness, embraced the moment in a TikTok video. He shared his positive experience attending a Swift concert, where he received a warm welcome.

Hawkins recalled being dubbed ‘dad of the year’ after the concert and receiving a heartfelt letter from Swift, expressing her love for ‘I Believe in a Thing Called Love.’ He stated, “To make matters even more spectacular, Taylor Swift actually sent me a lovely letter which was waiting for me in the VIP section talking about how much she loves the song ‘I Believe in a Thing Called Love.’ I was just dad of the year, maybe dad of the century.”

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Hawkins added, “I woke up this morning to footage of ‘I Believe in a Thing Called Love’ being played at the US Open with Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce dancing along. It was a heartwarming moment for me. My little girl can’t wait to tell her friends at school. Thanks, Taylor, thanks, Travis!”

Swift’s fans, known as Swifties, quickly rallied in the comments, predicting a resurgence of the song. One fan wrote, “Don’t underestimate the power of the Swifties. We may just put ‘I Believe in a Thing Called Love’ back in the charts because Mother has summoned us.”

Another commented, “Get ready, Justin, the Swifties have been summoned. You’re about to get a lot more plays.” A third simply added, “Alright, Swifties. Time to get this song on the chart.”

What Other Media Are Saying
  • People reports Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s heartwarming moment at the US Open, singing along to ‘I Believe in a Thing Called Love’, with Justin Hawkins reflecting on the event.(read more)
  • Cosmopolitan reports Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s enthusiastic singing and dancing at the US Open, showcasing their vibrant energy and affection.(read more)
  • Sky News reports that Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce danced together at the US Open final, showcasing their lively chemistry and entertainment during the event.(read more)
Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some common questions asked about this news

Why was Taylor Swift labeled ‘cringe’?

People found her singing along to a song at the US Open forced and unnatural.

What song was Taylor Swift singing along to?

She was singing along to ‘I Believe in a Thing Called Love’ by The Darkness.

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How did Justin Hawkins respond to Taylor Swift being called ‘cringe’?

He embraced it, sharing a TikTok video praising the moment.

What did Justin Hawkins say about Taylor Swift in his TikTok video?

He praised her for sending a lovely letter and making his daughter proud.

How did Swifties react to Taylor Swift singing The Darkness’ song?

They expressed intentions to make ‘I Believe in a Thing Called Love’ popular again.

Lee Shuyi

Lee is an expat writer living in Thailand. She specialises in Southeast Asian news for the Thaiger. When she's not writing, Lee enjoys immersing herself in Thai culture and learning Thai.

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