Swift calls out homophobes on new song, announces 7th album

Taylor Swift's latest song has a new target: homophobes.

Coinciding with the announcement of her seventh album, "Lover," the pop star on Thursday released a new tune called "You Need to Calm Down," where she addresses her own haters but also calls out those who attack the LGBTQ community.

At one point on the beat-laden track, Swift sings: "And control your urges to scream about all the people you hate/'Cause shade never made anybody less gay."

Taylor Swift performs at Wango Tango on Saturday, June 1, 2019, at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. (Photo by Chris PizzelloInvisionAP)

At another point she sings: "You need to just stop, like can you just not step on his gown?"

"You Need to Calm Down" is the second single from "Lover," to be released on Aug. 23. The song is the follow-up to "ME!," which featured Brendon Urie of Panic! at the Disco and peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Swift also released a colorful lyric video to match the new song on YouTube late Thursday — appropriately during Pride Month. A music video will be released Monday.

Taylor Swift performs at Wango Tango on Saturday, June 1, 2019, at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. (Photo by Chris PizzelloInvisionAP)

On "You Need to Calm Down," Swift even references the gay rights organization GLAAD when she sings, "Why are you mad when you could be GLAAD?/Sunshine on the street at the parade/But you would rather be in the dark ages/Making that sign must've taken all night."

Swift's last album was "reputation," released in 2017. In an Instagram Live session Thursday, Swift described her new 18-track album as "very romantic."

"I think the idea of something being romantic — it doesn't have to be a happy song," she said. "I think you can find romance in loneliness or sadness or going through a conflict or dealing with things in your life. I think it just kind of looks at those things with a very romantic gaze."

Taylor Swift performs at Wango Tango on Saturday, June 1, 2019, at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. (Photo by Chris PizzelloInvisionAP)

Taylor Swift performs at Wango Tango on Saturday, June 1, 2019, at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. (Photo by Chris PizzelloInvisionAP)

Taylor Swift performs at Wango Tango on Saturday, June 1, 2019, at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. (Photo by Chris PizzelloInvisionAP)

Taylor Swift performs at Wango Tango on Saturday, June 1, 2019, at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. (Photo by Chris PizzelloInvisionAP)

LUTON, England (AP) — Tom Lockyer, the Premier League player who suffered an onfield cardiac arrest earlier this season, says he is “at peace” with the prospect of having to retire from the sport.

The Luton captain had a defibrillator fitted after collapsing during a game against Bournemouth in December. He had previously collapsed seven months earlier during a game at Wembley Stadium because he suffered atrial fibrillation.

The 29-year-old Lockyer, who recently became a father for the first time, has not given up hope of resuming his playing career. But he accepts that may not be possible.

“I’ve made no secret saying I would love to return to football, but ultimately it would have to come down to someone who’s a cardiologist or a specialist who has done full research into what has gone on and if it could happen again, because we’ve got a little girl now and she takes priority,” Lockyer told BBC Radio Wales.

“I would love to play football again, of course I would, it’s my life but if it’s the case that I can’t, then I’m at peace with that as well."

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Luton Town's Tom Lockyer, centre, and team-mate Elijah Adebayo applaud the fans following the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Luton Town at Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton, England, Saturday April 27, 2024. Tom Lockyer, the Premier League player who suffered an onfield cardiac arrest earlier this season, says he is “at peace” if he is forced to retired from the sport. (Nick Potts/PA via AP)