Gary Estes, the man who went viral for smashing a $4,000 Taylor Swift guitar at a Texas charity event, has spoken out, claiming it was meant to be a joke. Estes, 67, purchased the guitar at the Ellis County Wild Game Dinner auction but shocked attendees by immediately destroying it with a hammer. The guitar, decorated with images of Taylor Swift, had doubt cast over whether it was personally signed by the singer, but Swift fans were outraged by the act.
Estes defended his actions, telling NBC News, “It was just a joke at an auction that we had to raise money for kids, right? And that’s all it was. There was nothing mean about it.” Craig Meier, a spokesperson for the event, backed Estes’ explanation, stating that the mood was light-hearted and humorous at the time, even suggesting the guitar smashing was a dig at Swift’s political involvement.
The incident sparked significant debate online, with some suspecting political motivations, particularly after Swift’s recent endorsement of Kamala Harris for president. Meier admitted there were political undertones but maintained that the gesture was not malicious. Despite this, the video of the smashed guitar went viral, fueling heated discussions among Swift’s fans and beyond.
