Fort Mill restaurant planned a Taylor Swift-themed night. Then came online comments

A Taylor Swift-themed event at a Fort Mill restaurant has been postponed after political comments online threatened to flood the event with people wearing Trump merchandise, the owner said.

The Hobo’s location in Fort Mill, on Main Street, planned to have the event Sept. 24, said Jason Cloud, who owns the Hobo’s locations in both Fort Mill and Rock Hill. The couple’s 12-year-old daughter, along with the general manager and staff, spent weeks on a “Swiftie menu” and other related items to make the event fun for adults and young fans of the pop megastar.

But Swift endorsed Democrat Kamala Harris over Republican Donald Trump immediately after this month’s debate. The Swift endorsement became national news because of Swift’s massive social media following , impacts on voter registration as well as the candidates’ reactions.

Some comments on social media about the Fort Mill event encouraged some to attend in MAGA or Trump hats and shirts, Cloud said.

Cloud said there were no threats made against the business, but the decision to postpone is best for the business and community because the event was not political.

“We just wanted to have a good time,” Cloud said.

The plan is to reschedule the Taylor Swift-themed event for after the election, Cloud said.

Fort Mill Police Department Capt. Steven Bivins said he spoke to Cloud Thursday morning and was told no threats were made.

For the past few months, Hobo’s held theme nights, including a recent Caribbean night. Hobo’s had graphics made for the Swift night and told its fans online on social media about the fun event for all ages, Jason Cloud said.

The Fort Mill location has been open since 2015 and the Rock Hill Hobo’s opened in 2022.

Cloud said he has received support from people who are upset that politics got in between Swifties, their families and an evening of laughter and music.

Cloud said his 12-year-old daughter put a lot of time into the event, too.

“She’s a little upset,” Cloud said.

She is not alone, either.

Fort Mill parent Alisa Bentley said she planned to go with her 15-year-old daughter, who is “obsessed with Taylor Swift.” The infusion of political rhetoric into a planned night of dancing and fun for Swifties and their families is disappointing, Bentley said.

“I wasn’t going to support one candidate or the other,” Bentley said. “We wanted to support a small business that we love and do something fun.”

The event was originally set for Sept. 24. Some Fort Mill families plan to go to Hobo’s on Tuesday even without Swiftie night to show support, Bentley said.