Before we get into the controversy that Taylor Swift’s wedding was destined to become, I wanted to briefly talk about the credible rape allegation against Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner, which was published in Politico yesterday. Platner has denied any allegations of nonconsensual sexual behavior.

This is a solid, well-reported piece, and I’m thankful to the reporters (Jessica Piper and Adam Wren), as well as the woman who made the allegation (Jenny Racicot) and all the other women who have spoken to reporters over the past few months about Platner’s behavior. It’s an enormous sacrifice to do this, and it shouldn’t have to be. Warning the public shouldn’t mean signing up for character assassination and harassment, but it almost always does when you’re a victim of sexual violence. The comments about these women littered across social media are horrific. It’s no wonder why most victims don’t ever come forward.

I believe Racicot, and I am so sorry she had to endure this. I hope she is surrounded by love and that her future is not impeded by this public service. I also hope that Platner steps down and that his future is impeded by his repeated transgressions and the ego required to run despite them. Democrats could really use this Senate seat and deserve someone who isn’t just a status-quo politician. There’s still time for that to happen. We could have had even more time if it weren’t for Platner, who bears the most responsibility here by far.

I also wish that more people on the left had drawn the line at Platner’s earlier controversies, like his Nazi tattoo or the New York Times reporting from a month ago that outlined the exact kind of behavior that makes someone, in my opinion, dangerous to elect. I also understand why more people didn’t speak up—the backlash against folks who criticized Platner earlier on was enormous. And that’s a problem.

We have got to be allowed to criticize public figures, especially those seeking political power, without being unfairly accused of moral policing or sowing division. What better time is there to discuss someone’s morality and trustworthiness than when that person is running for office? Lots of people, especially on the much-derided Bluesky, saw Platner for exactly who he was. Then we were called scolds and worse.

Racicot described her own moral conflict between supporting Platner’s politics and wanting the public to know who he really is as a person. Perhaps if we didn’t create an environment that is so hostile to valid criticism and so punishing to survivors, this wouldn’t be as hard as it is.

Now, onto a topic that has decidedly different stakes, but still somehow—to my dismay—involves allegations of gender-based violence. That topic would be Taylor Swift’s wedding to Travis Kelce. And before anyone accuses me of being a hater, I have been anticipating this momentous day since I was about 11 years old. I just didn’t expect to be so horrified by who was on her guest list.