On Thursday, June 20, climate activists breached security at Stansted Airport, northeast of London, and sprayed private jets with orange paint-just a day after Stonehenge was vandalized. According to CNBC, the activists claimed that Taylor Swift landed mere hours earlier.
However, Essex Police confirmed that despite the group's claims, Swift's private jet was not present at the time of the incident as she is currently on tour in the UK.
Two women, Jennifer Kowalski and Cole Macdonald, were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and interference with national infrastructure. The activists, equipped with fire extinguishers filled with orange paint, sprayed two private jets.
Just Stop Oil stated that it was demanding that the next UK government, after the July 4 general election, commit to phasing out fossil fuels by 2030.
The Stansted protest followed an incident in which activists sprayed orange powder paint on Stonehenge, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Political leaders and heritage organizations widely condemned this act.
Wiltshire Police arrested two individuals suspected of damaging the ancient monument; they were released on bail pending further inquiries.
Why Climate Activists Waited for Taylor Swift
A video posted by Just Stop Oil on Instagram showed one activist cutting a hole in the fence and then spraying orange paint over the jets.
The protestors specifically targeted Taylor Swift, who has faced environmental criticism for her frequent use of private jets. In 2022, she topped a list by sustainability firm Yard as one of the "worst private jet CO2 emission offenders," with her jet making 170 flights that year.
In 2023, Swift was no longer in the top 10, with Travis Scott taking the first spot, followed by Kim Kardashian, according to Carbon tracker myclimate.
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