As per usual, country -pop cross over Taylor Swift just can’t seem to catch a break from the relentless and never-ending criticism being thrown her way. The 24-year-old debuted the new music video for her latest single “Shake it Off” last Monday, in which she was featured wearing several different dance costumes as she attempted to find rhythm among groups of professional dancers. Shortly after its release, social media sites exploded in a stream of harsh comments and outlandish claims, some people stating that the video was “mocking certain types of dancing” or even “sending a racist message.” Both of which would appear unbelievably absurd if those behind the accusations had bothered to watch the whole video and had done a little research on it first.

Unfortunately, people feel the need to comment on things they know nothing about, so it’s up to someone else to inform them. Swift has been known to have no shame when it comes to showing off her less than stellar dance moves at music award shows, bouncing and bobbing to the beat while everyone else around her remains seated with a look of incurable boredom on their faces. She sees no wrong in dancing even when you can’t, just as long as you’re having fun.

The day of the music video’s release, in a worldwide live-stream, she informed fans that the video was a way to acknowledge her lack of dance skills, and to make fun of herself, hence her being surrounded by highly skilled dancers while she flailed and jumped about like her usual uncoordinated self . The video was not ridiculing any particular form of dance; she was simply laughing at herself while leaving the organized dancing to the experts.

As for the supposed racism? Some of those who viewed the video declared that it held hints of racism, featuring black women only in the 20-second twerking scene, with their backs to the camera. However, if one had taken the time to watch the video beginning to end, they would have seen that both men and women of color were included in several scenes, mixed in among the white dancers, faces most definitely not hidden or facing away from the camera. The different styles of dance incorporated into the video were chosen simply for their recent popularity, the dancers chosen according to skill rather than race or ethnicity.

Throughout her career, Swift has managed to uphold her scandal-free, squeaky clean image. Because of this, it seems as though people are determined to find ludicrous reasons to ridicule her and since they can no longer accuse her of dating too much or of writing songs solely about her ex-boyfriends, they’ve had to grapple for the most laughable reasons they can think up on the spot.

The harsh words and bitter rumors however, won’t be having any lasting negative affect on Swift. The song itself is all about doing the opposite – not letting the judgment and rumors get to you or affect who you are but instead learning to “shake if off” and continue living your life the way you want to. It’s refreshing to see a woman who’s been in the spotlight for 8 long years finally find a way to be both happy and successful even as the world is watching and criticizing her every move.