The Swifties attending iHeartRadio’s Detroit Jingle Ball 2023 received much more than they paid for thanks to a surprise guest. The popular year-end event promised the crowd a glimpse of the TIME’s Person of The Year only to let a Taylor Swift impersonator take the stage. While that does sound funny, many felt bitter for getting teased. Read the complete story below.
Taylor Swift impersonator takes the stage at Detroit Jingle Ball
The iHeartRadio Jingle Ball 2023 pulled a prank on the audiences by announcing that Taylor Swift is going to appear on stage as a special guest. It is hardly necessary to note that the crowd went rowdy with joy because not only is Swift the hottest star in the music scene but she is also one of the most sought-after performers.
Detroit Jingle Ball is facing major backlash for promising Taylor Swift, only to have a performance by a TSwift impersonator.
— Champagne and Shade (@ChampagneShade) December 7, 2023
Her Eras Tour has become one of the biggest concert tours in 2023 and perhaps all the time. Catching the star on a live stage is a dream for millions of fans; in this almost combat situation accidentally landing on an opportunity to witness her live is nothing less than winning a lottery.
However, the local radio station 95.5’s annual event that was held at Little Caesars Arena broke this dreamy excitement of Swifties by promising Taylor Swift only to let her impersonator take the stage.
Went to the jingle ball last night and they hyped up a special guest like it was Taylor swift and it was a look a like named “trailer swift” WHEN I TELL YOU I MEARLY HAD A HEART ATTACK? I was pissed 😭💀
— Cam🌻 (@CamStockett) December 6, 2023
The show was also excellent in pulling this prank by teasing the concertgoers that the next performer is having arguably the best year. Further asking the crowd whether they were familiar with the songs “Cruel Summer” and “Karma” and later introducing “Trailer Swift.”
That’s right, “Trailer Swift,” an impersonator of the global icon played by 95.5 producer Kristin Penrose. You can almost imagine the rate of excitement getting sucked out of the room when the penny drops.
Not Detroit’s Jingleball telling people Taylor Swift would be there & it turned out to be an impersonator😭 I’d be pissed
— Kelsey (@kelseyporrini) December 7, 2023
While the joke was funny in a classic comedy way, the attending fans didn’t enjoy it. There are reports that the arena stepped back from the scene and some even booed the impersonator, who was trying her best to perform for 20,000 disappointed people.
Netizens react
The netizens were far more forgiving of iHeartRadio’s prank than the attending audience (understandably so!) as they defended the impersonator by saying that it was silly of the crowd to believe they could catch Taylor Swift live in Detroit.
the fact that iheartradio just teased taylor swift….then brought out an impersonator…..i need emotional compensation
— shelbs • #1 btd stan (@shelby879090215) December 6, 2023
idk whats worse the fact they promoted her for clout or people were gulible enough to think she would just casually perform at a detroit jingle ball…….. https://t.co/45P19R6EGk
— Ahadiam (Taylor’s Version) (@TayluhSwiff13) December 7, 2023
that’s on them for thinking taylor swift is gonna perform at detroit jingle ball https://t.co/EgNWVpoLhI
— jen 🍉 (@julesvavghn) December 7, 2023
On the other hand, many of the netizens said that they would not complain about getting teased especially after witnessing a show with a lineup of Jelly Roll, Usher, Flo Rida, and others. That is if the stars on the stage were actually them, who knows right?
