Taylor Swift's 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl, has faced criticism and angst despite its commercial success. By Felix Glanville, Film & TV Editor.
The album has broken records for most physical copies sold in a week in the US and UK, and most-streamed album and song in a single day on Spotify.
However, a culture war has erupted online over Swift's artistic ability and the album's quality, making it the year's most divisive album.
What went wrong for the generational pop star — and is it all fairly deserved?
Author's summary: Taylor Swift's album sparks controversy despite success.