Taylor Swift casts trans model Laith Ashley as love interest in Midnights video
Taylor Swift has cast trans model Laith Ashley in a new Midnights video. (Taylor Swift/Getty)
Taylor Swift has teased an unnamed Midnights video starring trans actor Laith Ashley as her love interest in a huge “win for sexy people”.
Hours before she dropped her 10th album – and its surprise 3am Edition – Swift teased a number of upcoming music videos with a video posted to Instagram.
The montage features snippets from several different music videos – we see Swift in a starry cloak, a bath of purple liquid, a bejewelled head dress and a glittery corset.
The snippet that has caught the attention of fans, though, is one of Swift lying in bed with Laith Ashley, with Swift stroking a pool of glittery rainbow liquid on Ashley’s back.
Laith Ashley and Taylor Swift in the teaser for Swift’s upcoming music videos (@taylorswift/ Instagram)
Taylor tagged the Dominican actor, whose full name is Laith Ashley De La Cruz, in the post. He reposted the teaser trailer to his Instagram story, writing: “You are a magic. Thank you for letting me play a small part in your story.”
View this post on Instagram
Delighted by the news, fans have been heaping praise (and thirst) on Ashley and his inclusion in the project.
One wrote: “People discovering Laith Ashley because of Taylor’s music video is so cool. Trans guys definitely deserve more representation. Didn’t think I could love Taylor more but here we are.”
https://twitter.com/anderfinn/status/1583324981227757568
Taylor Swift’s love interest in her #Midnights visuals is transgender actor and model Laith Ashley. pic.twitter.com/eJe8hm51Wn— Pop Tingz (@ThePopTingz) October 21, 2022
if Laith Ashley, activist and openly trans model, plays taylor's love interest i will die FINALLY A WIN FOR SEXY PEOPLE!!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/XJgEAAr2mA— 🌸 sydney 🌸 (@squid7000) October 21, 2022
Laith Ashley about to get this bussy. https://t.co/ypmHdCZN9r— josé (@BeauLineIsToxic) October 21, 2022
The end of the teaser features a cast list of those involved, including Laura Dern, Dita Von Teese and the HAIM sisters, who also featured on Taylor’s album previous album, evermore.
Both the album and the “Anti-Hero” music video are out now; the singer/songwriter released Midnights on 21 October to mostly rave reviews from critics and fans alike.
Some, however, have criticised the fact that Lana Del Rey’s ‘feature’ on “Snow on the Beach” is nearly inaudible.
Swift surprised fans with a special edition of Midnights that features seven bonus tracks, because she simply doesn’t sleep, clearly.
