Thank you for having my back when a lot of people didn’t

Taylor Swift has written a letter to Barstool Sports‘ David Portnoy, thanking him for “having my back when a lot of people didn’t”.

Portnoy is the founder of an American blog site and digital media company called Barstool Sports. Founded in 2003, it publishes a range of content related to pop culture and sports journalism.

According to a new update by the BFFs podcast on Instagram, Portnoy was given a handwritten note from Swift while he was at her ‘Eras Tour’ show at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida.

“What a gift from @taylorswift to @stoolpresidente at last night’s ‘Eras Tour’,” the caption read, sharing an image of what seems to be the letter given to Portnoy – enclosed in a white envelope with a green wax stamp sealing it shut, reading the singer’s lucky number, 13.

“Dave, I’m so happy to have you at the show tonight!” she wrote. “I wanted to say thank you for always being so supportive, so loyal, and for having my back when a lot of people didn’t.”

Swift added: “I hope you have a blast tonight!! Love, Taylor.”

While the singer didn’t say exactly what it was that the 47-year-old “had her back” on, the letter does come after Portnoy publicly defended her decision to back Kamala Harris during the ongoing US Presidential campaign last month.

Yesterday (October 20), the Barstool Sports founder took to X/Twitter to share a video, recalling what it was like to be given the letter from the pop star.

“Not everyone agrees on every issue, politics, whatever it may be, world views – Swifties is about love and support and Taylor,” he said, adding that he had “the time of [his] life” at the show and “can’t get over how unbelievable Taylor is”.

“I can’t believe I met Austin and her mother, [Andrea Swift],” Portnoy continued. “I didn’t meet Taylor. That’s fine. I don’t think she ever really meets people when she’s performing.” He added that the note “means more” to him than meeting her as it means she “took time out” of her schedule to write the letter by hand.

Thanks to @taylorswift13 and team for an incredible night at Eras Tour. pic.twitter.com/ZujQkLKSdR

— Dave Portnoy (@stoolpresidente) October 20, 2024

When Swift announced her endorsement of Harris’ presidential candidacy, she championed her as “a steady-handed, gifted leader”, adding: “She fights for the rights and causes I believe need a warrior to champion them… I believe we can accomplish so much more in this country if we are led by calm and not chaos.”

The update sparked a backlash from Trump, who made headlines soon afterwards by sharing a post on social media reading: “I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT.”