Music

Watch Taylor Swift Give the NYU 2022 Commencement Speech

For New York University’s 2022 commencement at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday, Taylor Swift showed up to deliver a speech and receive her honorary doctorate.

At New York University’s 2022 commencement at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday, Taylor Swift showed up to deliver a speech for the graduates.

The 11-time Grammy winner showed up to toast the classes of 2020, 2021, and 2022 for their accomplishments in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of the ceremony, Swift received an honorary degree alongside NYU’s Class of 2022, giving her the title of Doctor of Fine Arts.

“Hi, I’m Taylor. Last time I was in a stadium this size I was dancing in heels and wearing a glittery leotard,” she joked as she opened her speech. “I would to say a huge thank you to NYU’s chairman of the board of trustees, Bill Berkley, and all the trustees and members of the board. … As for me, I am 90 percent sure I am here because I have a song called ‘22.’ And let me just say, I am elated to be with you here today as we celebrate and graduate New York University’s Class of ’22.”

During her lengthy speech, Swift stressed the importance of supportive friends and family while thanking her own. She also cracked plenty of jokes, and made many references to her music.

“How do I give advice to this many people about their life choices? I won’t,” she said. “Scary news is, you’re on your own now. Cool news is, you’re on your own now. I leave you with this: We are led by our gut instincts, our intuition, our desires and fears, our scars and our dreams. And you will screw it up sometimes. So will I. And when I do, you will most likely read about on the internet. Anyway…hard things will happen to us. We will recover. We will learn from it. We will grow more resilient because of it.”

The school previously launched a course on Swift taught by Rolling Stone journalist Brittany Spanos. The course “deconstruct[s] both the appeal and aversions to Taylor Swift through close readings of her music and public discourse as it relates to her own growth as an artist and a celebrity,” per an official description.

Watch Taylor give her speech above, and check out the full transcript below.

twitter

Related Stories

Taylor Swift (Detail: Herve Leger dress) and Drake attend the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards
music

Sources Shut Down Drake and Taylor Swift Collaboration Rumors

Drake recently shared a series of throwback photos, including one taken with Taylor Swift. The post led some to believe the artists had a collab on the way.

Joshua Espinoza1477 days ago
Taylor Swift at the 'All Too Well' Premiere
music

Taylor Swift Honored by Scientist Who Named New Millipede Species After Singer

A scientist has decided to name a newly-discovered species of millipede after none other than Taylor Swift, calling the insect a Nannaria swiftae.

Brenton Blanchet1478 days ago
The Weeknd is pictured smiling at a camera
music

2022 Billboard Music Awards Finalists Announced: The Weeknd, Doja Cat, Kanye, and More

Friday, the full list of finalists for the 2022 edition of the awards ceremony was unveiled, with The Weeknd and Doja Cat scoring a slew of noms each.

Trace William Cowen1488 days ago

Stay ahead on Exclusives

Download the Complex App