Get PolitiFact in your inbox.
No, this isn’t Taylor Swift’s jet getting painted by environmental activists
If Your Time is short
- Activists painted planes after singer Taylor Swift landed at the airport, but they didn’t paint Swift’s private jet.
A viral social media video shows someone dousing two airplanes with orange paint.
"Just Stop Oil activists paint Taylor Swift’s private jets," a June 20 Instagram post said, referring to the video.
This post was flagged as part of Meta’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram.)
Just Stop Oil describes itself as a "nonviolent civil resistance group demanding the UK government stop licensing all new oil, gas and coal projects."
Featured Fact-check
On June 20, the group posted on X footage of someone painting planes with orange paint. The post said: "Just Stop Oil paint private jets hours after Taylor Swift’s lands."
A statement on the group’s website said two Just Stop Oil supporters painted multiple private jets at the London Stansted Airport near Essex, England, "where Taylor Swift’s jet landed mere hours before."
The statement didn’t say that the supporters painted Swift’s plane. Essex police, who arrested two women in the vandalism, said Swift’s plane wasn’t at the airport at the time, The Associated Press reported. Swift’s plane landed at Stansted hours before the activists painted the other plane, BBC News reported.
We rate claims Just Stop Oil activists painted Swift’s jets False.
Our Sources
Instagram post, June 20, 2024
X post, June 20, 2024
Just Stop Oil, I’ve got a fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty baby, and I’ll write your name: Just Stop Oil paint private jets hours after Taylor Swift’s lands, June 20, 2024
BBC News, Two women charged after jets sprayed with paint, June 21, 2024
The Associated Press, Climate activists arrested for spray-painting private jets orange at London airport, June 20, 2024
USA Today, Video shows climate activists spray paint jets where Taylor Swift's plane likely landed, June 20, 2024
Browse the Truth-O-Meter
More by Ciara O'Rourke
No, this isn’t Taylor Swift’s jet getting painted by environmental activists
Support independent fact-checking.
Become a member!
In a world of wild talk and fake news, help us stand up for the facts.