Man who smashed $4,000 Taylor Swift guitar with hammer shares why he did it

A Texas man who went viral aft he bought a Taylor Swift-themed guitar astatine auction for US$4,000, only to destruct it pinch a hammer seconds later, says he pulled disconnected nan stunt for a laughter and claims there’s nary sick will intended.

Gary Estes, 67, garnered nan ire of galore Swifties complete nan play erstwhile video was posted to societal media that showed him smashing done a Swift-branded guitar astatine a kindness event.

He’d won nan coveted instrument, emblazoned pinch images of nan popular superstar, astatine nan Ellis County Wild Game Dinner successful Waxahachie, Texas. Seconds aft approaching nan shape to retrieve nan item, he smashed it pinch a hammer 17 times.

“Guess we don’t request nan wall hanger,” nan auctioneer joked earlier saying, “Hey, Gary, now return that and bent up that busted thing.”

The video, uploaded to TikTok by arena attendee JD Cobb, instantly went viral. Many saw it arsenic an enactment of debasement related to Swift’s caller endorsement of Democratic statesmanlike hopeful Kamala Harris.

“We’re successful an area (Ellis County) wherever Trump is beautiful prevalent,” Cobb told USA Today, confirming he besides thought it was meant arsenic a flimsy against Swift. “Especially among state type folk, not a batch of group present for illustration Taylor Swift.”

But Estes insists it was conscionable a joke and “nothing mean astir it.”

“There was nothing malicious aliases thing astir it,” he told NBC News connected Tuesday. “It was conscionable a joke astatine an auction that we had to raise money for kids, right? And that’s each it was. There was thing mean astir it, thing bad astir it. It was conscionable a joke that they were making up connected nan stage, and we conscionable followed done pinch a joke.”

However, he did opportunity that he’s a Donald Trump supporter and hasn’t been keen connected Swift’s support for Harris.

“Yes, you tin link nan dots there,” Estes said.

Auctioneer Craig Meier, a spokesperson for nan event, told USA Today he’s been taken aback by nan online reaction.

“It has been astonishing to maine really large of a woody group are making it retired to be. It wasn’t meant to beryllium mean aliases malicious,” he said successful a statement. “He was conscionable making a lighthearted connection showing disapproval of group successful nan intermezo manufacture trying to power politics…. It was conscionable a funny point that happened astatine our yearly event. The crowd thought it was hilarious.”

Swift’s fans, however, don’t look to agree.

“These aged boys judge are mounting an unthinkable illustration for their children,” 1 instrumentality commented nether Cobb’s video. “Desecrating a women’s worth. Their wives must beryllium truthful proud.”

“Bunch of aged men mocking a young accomplished female – compensating for their inadequacy,” wrote another.

Swift fans, however, mightiness get nan past laughter successful nan saga – while first reports said that nan guitar was signed by Swift, sources adjacent to her merch institution told Variety nan instrumentality did not carnivore her signature, nor was it ever utilized by her.

It appears that nan guitar is once again being auctioned off, but this clip connected eBay. A listing shows a guitar covered successful smashed-in holes and promises each proceeds will spell to helping section kids participate successful agriculture acquisition programs. As of publication, bids for nan smashed-up guitar person reached $4,400.