Josh Hutcherson has addressed the uproar following his Taylor Swift remark. After more than a decade navigating the peculiar gravity of global fame, Hutcherson has learned that even casual observations can spiral far beyond their original context.

Josh Hutcherson addresses fan backlash over not being a Swiftie

Josh Hutcherson recently responded to fan criticism he faced after revealing he isn’t part of Taylor Swift’s fandom.

In a recent GQ interview, the actor remembered nearly facing cancellation last year over a remark he made about the global pop star. The comment came during the press tour for I Love LA, where he stars as Dylan opposite Rachel Sennott’s Maia.

At the time, Hutcherson was playing a game of camera roll roulette with his co-star Jordan Firstman for an i-D Magazine video interview. When The Beekeeper actor scrolled to a photo of himself and his mom in the VIP section at Swift’s Eras Tour stop in New Orleans, he said, “My mom made me… I’m not a Swiftie. Very much not. No shade, all respect, but definitely not.”

However, Swift’s fans were quick to voice their displeasure, criticizing the actor for taking VIP tickets to her show despite not being a fan of the singer.

“I got some heat because I did a photo shoot with Jordan, and Jordan asked me something about being a [Taylor Swift fan], and I was like, ‘Oh no, I’m definitely not a Swiftie,’” Josh Hutcherson shared with GQ. “All of a sudden, it garnered this, ‘F— him! He’s a monster! Destroy him! He’s short! He hates her because he’s short!’ [He’s 5ft, 5in.] It’s just like, whoa! I think she’s great. Her music is not my kind of music. That is why I don’t want to be online.”

The 33-year-old further revealed that he prefers to stay offline and focus on being present in his day-to-day life when he isn’t actively promoting a project. “I don’t need that energy,” he added.