Swift's 2020 documentary "Miss Americana" shed light on her decision to engage with politics.

Swift and her mother, Andrea Swift, in the 2020 documentary "Miss Americana."

Netflix

In the climactic scene of Netflix's 2020 documentary "Miss Americana" — which explores the evolution of Swift's public persona, especially throughout the "Reputation" and "Lover" eras — Swift argues with members of her family and team about ending her apolitical stance in 2018.

A member of Swift's team points out that she had not gotten involved in politics or religion for 12 years, arguing that doing so could cut her fanbase in half.

Swift's father, Scott Swift, says that he would be "terrified" for Swift's safety if she were to get involved with politics. He also says that well-known rockstars would stay out of it.

"Why would you? Does Bob Hope do it? Does Bing Crosby do it? Does Mick Jagger do it?" Scott asks his daughter, to which Swift replies, "First of all, these aren't your dad's celebrities and these aren't your dad's Republicans."

Swift gets teary-eyed as she insists, "It's really basic human rights, and it's right and wrong at this point." She also says she regrets her silence during the 2016 election season, but she can only change her behavior moving forward.

"I need to do this. I need you to just — dad, I need you to forgive me for doing it because I'm doing it," she says.

When Swift's publicist, Tree Paine, points out that Trump might attack her, Swift replies, "Yeah, fuck that, I don't care. If I get bad press for saying, 'Don't put a homophobic racist in office,' then I get bad press for that."

The argument leads to Swift sharing her famous Instagram post, in which she condemns Rep. Blackburn and endorses two Democratic candidates for Senate. Later in the documentary, Swift tells the camera, "I feel really good about not feeling muzzled anymore. And it was my own doing."