A Taylor Swift fan who runs a parody account dedicated to her idol has become an internet sensation, after it was revealed she spent two months in prison for refusing to join the Israel Defense Forces. “As most of you know, I haven’t been very active in the past couple of months because I was in prison :/ I’m back now though :) more Taylor Swiftupdates coming soon!” the account @LegitTayUpdates posted on Tuesday. But it was only when a fan asked “omg why,” that it was brought to everyone's attention just why the person behind the account had spent time behind bars, as she said “I refused to join the IDF lmao.” The tweet has since reached 50,000 likes, but it has been screenshotted and shared multiple times.
“That Taylor Swiftupdate account that refused to join the IDF is the wonder woman we deserve,” one Twitter user said, while another person joked: “‘Taylor Swift Updates account becomes pro-Palestine icon’ should have been on my 2019 bingo card, but I never learn.”
Conscription exists in Israel for all Israeli citizens over the age of 18 who are Jewish, Druze, or Circassian. The normal length of compulsory service is currently two years and eight months for men and two years for women.
Na’ama, who will only go by her first name in fear that she will be rearrested, told The Jerusalem Postin a Twitter DM: “Once a screenshot of my tweet went viral, everything just sort of exploded. People have reached out for more info, friends of mine have blocked me and berated me for using my time as a ‘tool for attention’, people have offered me jobs, money, drinks, tours in their country, marriage... I’ve just been trying to make sure the focus is on Palestine and helping them, as well as spreading info while still protecting my own identity.” She also told the paper that her family are ashamed of her actions. Taylor Swift is yet to respond.
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