Exclusive: Coca-Cola Cuts Ties, Deal Worth $625 Million cut off From Taylor Swift Over Harris Endorsement, “We Don’t Support Her Endorsement”…

In a move that has sent shockwaves through both the music and marketing worlds, Coca-Cola has officially ended its long-standing partnership with global pop icon Taylor Swift. The reason? Swift’s very public endorsement of Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential race, a political stance that Coca-Cola executives say clashes with the brand’s values of “unity and neutrality.”

Swift, who has been the face of Diet Coke campaigns since 2013, is no stranger to setting trends. But her latest endorsement has landed her in hot water with the soft drink giant, which has decided to take a hard stance by cutting ties with the star. Coca-Cola’s leadership, known for its steadfast focus on keeping politics far away from its fizzy empire, found themselves bubbling with concern over the impact of Swift’s newfound political voice.

“We’ve enjoyed a mutually beneficial relationship with Taylor Swift for years, but we cannot support her recent political endorsement,” said a Coca-Cola spokesperson. “Our brand is about refreshing people of all backgrounds, no matter their beliefs. We simply don’t want to mix our product with politics. We sell soda, not platforms.”

The trouble started when Taylor Swift posted an impassioned Instagram message supporting Kamala Harris as the next president of the United States. Calling Harris “the leader we need” and “a true inspiration for women everywhere,” Swift’s post racked up millions of likes and an equal amount of controversy.

For some, it was a sign of Swift using her platform to empower change. For Coca-Cola executives, however, it was a political minefield they had no interest in navigating. The company quickly held emergency meetings to discuss the endorsement’s potential fallout, especially in a country already deeply divided over politics. By the time the executives finished their second round of Diet Cokes, the decision was made: it was time to part ways with their bubbly brand ambassador.

“We respect Taylor’s right to express her opinions,” said the spokesperson. “But as a company that has customers on all sides of the political spectrum, we need to remain neutral. When the message starts to interfere with the product, we have to protect the brand.”

Swift, never one to back down from controversy, responded swiftly (pun intended). Just hours after Coca-Cola’s announcement, she took to social media again, this time with a photo of herself sipping on what appeared to be sparkling water, the caption reading: “I’ll survive without Diet Coke. What I won’t survive without is standing up for what I believe in.”

The message was clear: Taylor Swift wasn’t going to let a corporate breakup stop her from expressing her political views. In true Swift fashion, she managed to turn a potentially damaging scenario into a moment of empowerment, with her fans—known as “Swifties”—flooding social media to show their support.

“Coca-Cola dropping Taylor for speaking her mind? Their loss,” one fan tweeted, alongside a gif of Swift flipping her hair. “She doesn’t need them. She’s bigger than any brand.”

As expected, the internet exploded with reactions. Some fans were outraged, calling for a boycott of Coca-Cola products in protest of the company’s decision to cut ties with Swift. The hashtag #CokeIsCancelled began trending, with Swift’s loyal followers vowing to switch to other beverages and calling out the brand for what they saw as a “corporate overreaction.”

“I’ve been drinking Diet Coke since I was 15, but if they can’t handle Taylor standing up for what’s right, I’ll be switching to LaCroix,” one fan tweeted.

The backlash wasn’t limited to Twitter. Across Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook, Swifties posted videos of themselves pouring cans of Coke down the drain or dramatically replacing Coca-Cola products with other beverages. One viral video even featured a fan holding up a sign reading, “You Can’t Spell ‘Coca-Cola’ Without ‘Cancel’”—a clever dig at the company’s decision to part ways with Swift.