Texas man who smashed ‘Taylor Swift guitar’ with hammer speaks out

A Texas man, identified as 67-year-old Gary Estes, has been making headlines after he smashed a supposedly "signed" Taylor Swift guitar at a charity auction. Estes had bid $3,200 for the instrument, which was being auctioned off to raise money for agricultural education for local youth. The event, which took place in Ellis County, Texas, was a fundraiser that also featured items such as tickets to see artists like Chris Stapleton and George Strait, and a trip to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Estes claimed that his actions were meant as a joke and that he had intended to follow through with a humorous prank. However, auctioneer Craig Meier, who was present at the event, later stated that he believed the stunt was an obvious political statement, with Estes' actions being a dig at Taylor Swift for her political affiliations. Meier claimed that Swift's recent endorsement of Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris and her running mate, Tim Walz, had sparked a backlash among some attendees. Estes, who identified himself as a Trump supporter, confirmed that he was displeased by Swift's endorsement of Harris and felt that his actions were a way to express his disapproval. Despite the supposed certificate of authenticity, sources close to Swift's merch company have confirmed that the guitar was not signed by Swift. The guitar is now being listed on eBay for a starting bid of $100, with sale proceeds going towards the same cause of supporting agricultural education for local youth.