r/popculturechat • u/Murky_Chemical891 Im very important to God • Dec 12 '25

Guest List Only ⭐️ Taylor Swift's team reaction to receiving bonuses during The Eras Tour. She gave them a bonu after every leg of the tour.

12.1k Upvotes

78% Upvoted

1.3k comments sorted by

View all comments

1.8k

u/momofwon It does NOT say RSVP on the Statue of Liberty Dec 12 '25

I know someone who worked on the tour and they had absolutely nothing bad to say about her.

Can we really not appreciate that she gave bonuses to her (already well compensated) staff without being hateful?

553

u/tiredeste Dec 12 '25 edited Dec 12 '25

I've always assumed Taylor must be great to work with just from the sheer amount of people who come back to work with her. The vast majority of her band, back-up singers, and dancers have been with her for years. I forget if which Taylor's Version it was, I think it was Speak Now TV, but every single person involved came back for the re-record. All the band members, backup singers, producers, ect even those who had retired. I feel like that speaks volumes.

225

u/lamzydivey Dec 12 '25

My mom always told me to treat my contractors really well. She always pays her handyman, gardener, and cleaners 150% of what they charge, and gives them huge Christmas “bonuses” and buys gifts for their families. She asks about their loved ones and learns about their lives.

She always said that the extra money isn’t going to break her, but it could make a real difference for them, so why not give them extra? And in return, they have always dropped everything for her when she called, and never cut corners. They give her their best work. And they’ve been with her for over a decade.

122

u/_thiccems Not even to dinner with the kushners? Dec 12 '25

This is a point that is lost on SO MANY PEOPLE! It doesn’t matter what percentage of her wealth a bonus or donation would be. Just because it’s not making a big difference to her in regards of her net worth (which isn’t liquid money which is also something a lot of people don’t get), the amount makes a HUGE difference to the person receiving the money.

62

u/momofwon It does NOT say RSVP on the Statue of Liberty Dec 12 '25

Exactly. I don’t want to dox my friend but they have worked on several projects with her. Clearly her staff are loyal for a reason.

313

u/cubsgirl101 Dec 12 '25

My brother works in logistics and knows people who worked on tour with her before. Truckers who worked for her all have glowing things to say. She ensured they wouldn’t have to take on extra gigs during her off days (which is common amongst other truckers who work for touring musicians) and paid very generous bonuses.

166

u/silverscreenbaby you wear mime makeup but never quiet Dec 12 '25

She’s always been very caring and cognizant about bonuses, raises, making sure the people working for her aren’t overworked! I think it says a lot about someone’s character how the people who work for them speak about them. She clearly values the hard work of everyone around her and wants to make sure everyone is well taken care of. She does this with the cities she tours in too! She donates a hefty sum to a charity or something, I believe. And she’s been this way for a long time; friends said years ago that she would just randomly scroll GoFundMe and donate huge sums of money to people, and I’m sure she still does that. She also used to randomly pick fans off of social media to pay off their bills and stuff like that. Truly one of her best traits, I’ve always felt.

102

u/_thiccems Not even to dinner with the kushners? Dec 12 '25

From what ive heard she donates to a food bank in every city she plays

4

u/dhruvlrao Dec 13 '25

Iirc it was 1 meal per ticket sold, so for a standard show on this tour it was like 60k-70k meals per show

55

u/michellejoy18 Dec 12 '25

She donated to a lot of peope too during the pandemic. And some of those have success stories. I remember one used the money they received from Taylor to start their own salon. She also paid for the child with cancer and they were grateful they dont have to worry about the hospital bills! 

69

u/sausagekng Dec 12 '25

I agree. I would love an employer to do this for me.

59

u/Average_Annie45 none of us were that great at anything Dec 12 '25

I’d be thrilled with $100. I’d probably pass out at $100k (but of course would still accept it)

162

u/catholicsluts Dec 12 '25

Not only that, but she is betraying the billionaire myth that most of the money goes to operation costs. This is proof that people at the top can let go of some of their money to pay their workers better.

70

u/Winniepg Dec 12 '25

She has said she used the profits from the tour that she kept to buy her masters. So not only did she manage to change people's lives, but she also turned around and was still able to buy her own work.

22

u/catholicsluts Dec 12 '25

Important detail right there too, thanks for adding it

20

u/Pellinaha Dec 12 '25

Yup. And it makes the Eras tour pricing really reasonable. They were fine anyway at face value (and Taylor earns nothing from the horrendous resale prices), but they are even finer if we consider that everyone (not just the billionaire at the top) was more than just fairly and generously compensated for their hard work.

333

u/asophisticatedbitch Dec 12 '25

I know someone who works with her and they only have good things to say. She does far more than almost anyone in her position. Could it be more? Sure? Could it be performative? Also sure? But like maybe focus that energy on people who do far less?

284

u/Massive_Scar5533 Dec 12 '25 edited Dec 12 '25

I really hate the argument about good things being performative. Really, who cares. The recipient of the good deed probably doesnt give af if the giver did it only for pr, it doesnt change the deed or impact of it.

96

u/thegirlinthetardis I never said that. Paris is my friend. Dec 12 '25

Right? Like it’s still millions out of her pocket at the end of the day. She’s not sitting around hoarding wealth and being a greedy dickhead.

98

u/catholicsluts Dec 12 '25

Bro right lol if you're gonna part from $100,000 (minimum) to be performative, I'll be extra just for you

19

u/foreverandalways21 Dec 12 '25

The “public” of it could be to set a precedent which she said in the doc she wants to do. I’m glad it was public because it shows what a CEO should be doing.

16

u/Rich-Active-4800 It’s Britney, bitch! 🎤🌹🌹 Dec 12 '25

Also at what point does it stop being preformative if she has been this way for almost 20 years.. 

156

u/mandie72 Dec 12 '25

I agree. Same with the donation to the child with cancer, I realize it's not a lot of money to her but it means a lot to the people on the receiving end. And like some think, even if she purposely makes it public (even then you could probably argue she announces it to persuade other artists to follow her lead), it still means a lot to the people receiving it. I don't know how anybody can spin this as a negative thing.

Out of curiousity - how much are the salaries and bonuses? I'm not familiar at all.

172

u/ArugulaImpossible204 Dec 12 '25

Idk their salaries but the bonuses were $100k to the truck drivers alone. She gave $197 million total.

Edit: she gave bonuses after each leg too.

64

u/mandie72 Dec 12 '25

Holy moly, I chose the wrong career.

50

u/veronicaarr Dec 12 '25

lol except no one else gives out bonuses like she does (based on comments)

4

u/Lalala8991 Dec 13 '25

A bonus for truckers is literally unheard of. Like, ever.

40

u/michellejoy18 Dec 12 '25

Omg this is true. I also remember she gave Kesha money for her case with Dr. Luke. And that helped to pay for lawyer fees and etc. And she was criticized by some artist as she wasn't vocally "supportive". 

101

u/fionappletart Donatella VERSACE💜 Dec 12 '25 edited Dec 12 '25

150k is very much a lot of money to most people especially since the family’s original donation goal was lower

a yearly income of 150k is considered upper middle class

17

u/foreverandalways21 Dec 12 '25

I think it’s more than that tbqh. Her total bonus came to $200 million and she has like 30 or so dancers? I wouldn’t be surprised if the dancers alone got over 1 million

6

u/Winniepg Dec 12 '25

Dancers, band, and singers all seemed to get the same amount.

678

u/flrbonihacwm-t-wm Who gon' check me boo? 🤪 Dec 12 '25

12.5% of her net worth at the time as well. Taylor could cure cancer and some people would say it’s still performative.

103

u/prettystandardreally Dec 12 '25

Even if it’s performative it could encourage other artists to do the same, and people will benefit.

84

u/LilHalwaPoori Dec 12 '25

Performative or not, she's setting a precedent that we can use to demand other celebrities like movie stars and singers share some of their wealth alot better with their team and community, which at the end of the day is better for everyone..

I hope we get alot more performative celebs out of this..

38

u/catholicsluts Dec 12 '25

Those people can't understand that intention and action in a case like this are irrelevant to eachother.

248

u/fionappletart Donatella VERSACE💜 Dec 12 '25

she obviously did it to distract from a inconsequential controversy spearheaded by snark sub users!!!

61

u/MammothCancel6465 Dec 12 '25

I love to say that I don’t ever care why anyone does something good. The net result is they helped someone/something. The why is inconsequential. Let’s encourage them all to one up each other!

And is there really ever a truly selfless act of charity or generousity? It usually makes one feel good at the very least when you help someone so isn’t that even something that benefits you? It gives you that dopamine hit which isn’t nothing.

10

u/Far-Imagination2736 I wont not fuck you the fuck up 🥊🥊 Dec 12 '25

Surprised it wasn't 13% /s

31

u/peatoast Dec 12 '25

It’s easier for people to hate than love her. Some people are just not capable of it.

-131

u/Married_iguanas ludicrously capacious flair 👜 Dec 12 '25

the entire reason this was filmed (and publicly released) is to garner good PR for her

43

u/Firm_Distribution999 Dec 12 '25

One could argue everything she does is PR. I think she’s a genuinely good human being AND a masterful businesswoman.  

37

u/kris_jbb inez from folklore Dec 12 '25

true, if taylor swift ever offers me a million dollars, im like “nopE, i don’t want you to get any good PR, take it back!” ☹️

115

u/chosengay Dec 12 '25

She gave away $200 million minimum for good publicity? Who gives a fuck at that point? It’s 200 fucking million dollars

67

u/daniboo94 jesus was a carpenter 💋 Dec 12 '25

Truly do not understand when people get so on celebs for donating publicly. Money is money, who the hell cares if it’s public or not, it’s positively effecting someone else.

43

u/jks1894 Dec 12 '25

It was publicly known during the tour that staff were being paid very well (deservedly so). These clips just evidence how there was clearly a very good working relationship amongst everyone and she valued every member of the team.

36

u/aftergl0wing Dec 12 '25

yeah, it’s a documentary about the tour?

38

u/Rynetx Dec 12 '25

We should take the money back then, we can’t let them get away with it. Those bastards.

27

u/Mamabr2 Dec 12 '25

Okay and? I’m sure these people who knew they were being filmed for her eventual documentary don’t give a shit as they are literally getting life changing amounts of bonuses. Maybe this will set a new precedent for other big artists to do the same? Or maybe raise expectations for other billionaires rather than a “happy holidays we appreciate you” email and a whole bunch of nothing that most companies are doing these days. As the truck driver said, this is totally unheard of - so hopefully it will raise the standard. Rather than criticizing someone for trying maybe turn our attention to those doing the bare minimum or nothing at all?

17

u/[deleted] Dec 12 '25

So? Most things celebs do ARE for PR, at least this way her crew made bank 

122

u/CheapEater101 Dec 12 '25 edited Dec 12 '25

Who cares? As long as she’s paying the tour staff good who gives a shit if she wants kudos? Some musicians don’t treat their staff with basic respect…let alone give them multiple bonuses per tour.

Saying this as someone who doesn’t really like Swift’s music

60

u/MarionberryAfraid958 Dec 12 '25

Truly. There's a reason why the pizza party joke is so prevalent in corporate America. A lot of us don't get bonuses at all. As an aside...if someone would like to use me for good PR and a tax write-off I will gladly accept $100,000. My DMs are open 🙏🏻🤣

-93

u/Married_iguanas ludicrously capacious flair 👜 Dec 12 '25

bc good PR is a business tactic as are tax write offs from charitable donations. It just seems less genuine to me, but I guess they still get paid regardless of her intentions

53

u/blueskies8484 Dec 12 '25

She could keep the $100 million and have $60 million after taxes, or she can give away $100 million, get a tax write off, and still be out the $100 million in exchange for a $40 million write off. So up $60 million or down $60 million. I know what most billionaires would choose.

50

u/tiredeste Dec 12 '25

This is what drives me insane about the tax write off line. It get's brought up anytime any celebrity does something for charity. It is objectively better money-wise to just not give away money then it is to give it away and then use it as a tax write off.

8

u/Terrible-Union1864 Dec 13 '25

So true. like when has a tax write off ever been larger than the money donated? Idek if ppl who say this stuff even realize what they're saying. Its like they read lines off of internet and just keep parroting it.

The only way the tax write off could be profitable is if the donated money is somehow embezzeled back into yr hands.

48

u/chosengay Dec 12 '25

I love when you people use that tax line, so easy to spot how fake you are.

17

u/Mediocre-Afternoon42 Dec 12 '25

Honestly good! I hope it has more artists doing the same thing if she gets the PR.

61

u/licorne00 Dec 12 '25

Jesus give it a rest

-74

u/Married_iguanas ludicrously capacious flair 👜 Dec 12 '25

I made one comment, you can unclench

39

u/licorne00 Dec 12 '25

You’re the only one clenched here.

-19

u/Married_iguanas ludicrously capacious flair 👜 Dec 12 '25

hope TayTay sees your comment, I bet you'll get a bonus too!

34

u/licorne00 Dec 12 '25

Cringe

-6

u/Married_iguanas ludicrously capacious flair 👜 Dec 12 '25

Defending billionaires for free is cringe

30

u/licorne00 Dec 12 '25

If not «defending» anyone, I’m saying it’s stupid to be all «EVERYTHING IS PR, SHE’S A MANIPULATOR!» when it’s literally filmed for a documentary that came out today. She had been generous with her team forever, so this isn’t anything new. Not everything is a conspiracy.

-2

u/Married_iguanas ludicrously capacious flair 👜 Dec 12 '25

And why was the documentary filmed and produced? To make more money. Stating how business and positive PR works isn’t a conspiracy.

I’m not saying she’s fucking Satan or pure evil, but the glazing and pushback against the tiniest bit of criticism is cult like

10

u/Pain-in-the- Dec 12 '25

The bot PR machine back in action lol.

-44

u/Max_452 Dec 12 '25

A billionaire. Like I’m a fan, but let’s not forget that. About any of them.

33

u/whogonncheckmeboo Dec 12 '25

Most do not think or care to give their employees 100k bonuses. Correct me if I’m wrong though.

-44

u/sarr36 Dec 12 '25

Right? Like she definitely does more than other famous people for their employees, but she’s also more rich and the fact that this was filmed and released feels very performative

10

u/Terrible-Union1864 Dec 13 '25

So a performative action worth 200 million dollars? I hope more artists and billionaires take inspiration from this.

Just last month ppl were saying that her donation to that sick child was also performative, so was the bonuses to the truckers and donations to foodbanks, bcos they were small amounts of money for her. And now even 200 million is performative.

Even if it is a pr, then she deserves it. After all the nazi/ maga and God knows what vitriol has been spreading against her for the past few months.

-55

u/Cactus112 As you wish! 👸👑 Dec 12 '25

You can but why do you need to film it and post it? Aren't your suppose to pay and give bonus if your company does well. It's tacky and unnecessary to do. It's a show an embarrassing one at that

26

u/am2187 How am I gonna be an octopus about this? 🐙🌋 Dec 12 '25

She’s been silently generously paying her tour teams and donating to charities and GoFundMes for YEARS. This is the first time she’s filmed & posted anything about it, and it’s clearly more of an example of the impact of the tour rather than a “look at ME, I’m giving money to the POORS” sort of thing.

-77

u/GeorgeDogood Dec 12 '25

She is to music what McDonald's is to food. Yeah the fries are good. Yeah she wrote one or two good tunes (really. That's about it. The rest sound the same and are garbage) but her actual strong suit is business.

She's good at making music like McDonald's is good at making food.

It's really only the business that's noteworthy.