Ken Bruce has faced the wrath of Taylor Swift fans today after he revealed the reason why he refuses to play her music on his Greatest Hits Radio show - noting all her songs "are the same".
Leaving the BBC Radio 2 slot saw its average weekly listeners drop by 7 per cent from 14.5 million in January to March 2023 to 13.5 million in April to June 2023 – the largest quarterly fall for Radio 2 in years.
Bruce continued to show off his knowledge and radio skills after he moved to Greatest Hits Radio, where he quickly amassed a weekly audience of 3.8 million listeners.
However, his loyal listeners may no longer consist of Swifties after he revealed that he will only play some of her songs when she stops writing about "her ex-boyfriends".
He recently told The Mail On Sunday that he thinks: "All her songs are the same. I’ll play her on my station when she writes something that isn’t about her ex-boyfriends."
The 73-year-old went on to clarify his distaste for her music, and added: "Great radio songs have three beats and then they’re straight into the song, not these long intros that she does."
Ken Bruce slammed her music and said it was all about her ex-boyfriends
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He backed up his decision by noting that his listeners mostly tune in to listen to 80s, 90, and Noughties music, so playing Swift's hits wouldn’t make sense.
"We do early noughties and 2010s, not very many but we expect people to know things from recent and current music – only the biggest names, though."
His comments didn't sit well with fans of the 34-year-old singer as they quickly flocked to their social media accounts, with one writing: "Leave it to an old white man to be completely out of touch….. Shocker."
Another X user posted: "Tell me you’ve never actually given her music a chance without telling me. Men are so quick to parrot that talking point. News flash, men write about their relationships just as much. Grow up."
Taylor Swift fans were left outraged at his comments
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"If this is actually true, then someone needs to educate this ignorant 'presenter.' Many of her songs are inspired by her imagination or are narrative-driven and not about an 'ex.' Mr Bruce needs to improve his game," someone else slammed.
Other users simply listed a few of Swift’s songs that have nothing to do with her ex-boyfriends, including one user who penned: "I Did Something Bad, Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me, Florida, Clara Bow, Nothing New, Mirrorball, Seven, The Lakes, Marjorie, It’s Time To Go.
"Closure, Long Story Short, Anti-Hero, Vigilante Shit, Look What You Made Me Do, The Man, Bad Blood, You’re On Your Own Kid, Karma, Mean…" (sic)
Despite the outrage, Bruce has never claimed to be an arbiter of mainstream popular music, making his comments on Swift particularly ill-advised.
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Others listed the plethora of songs which did not involve her ex-boyfriends
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After leaving the BBC, Bruce suggested that it should reconsider its strategy, as Radio 2 attempts to follow trends have alienated listeners who want the old-school hits his new show offers.
He said: "When you’re over 35, you’re more comfortable with yourself and don’t mind being uncool. Radio 2 thinking it’s cool is the worst thing we can do."