???
"If you can't beat them, join them", seems to be Taylor Swift's new mantra.
Days after drawing headlines for ending her six-month absence from the public spotlight by wiping her social media accounts, the 27-year-old filled the Blank Space and uploaded a glitchy, 10 second, silent clip of what appears to be a slithering snake.
Fans are preparing themselves for a new album to drop, and a possible image overhaul, but why the snake?
Well, strap yourselves in and get ready to be taken back to July 2016, when the carefully curated world of Taylor Swift came tumbling down after the Queen of Calabasas Kim Kardashian West released her second most popular home video of all time and the green snake emoji became code for the former country singer.
It all started when West and Swift reignited their long-running feud not long after they seemingly buried the hatchet (following their 2009 VMAs battle) when West referred to her in his now infamous song, Famous: "I feel like me and Taylor might still have sex ... I made that bitch famous."
Swift claimed he never sought permission. West claimed he did. Then Kardashian West showed up and set social media alight when she leaked a recorded conversation between them on Snapchat that showed they did discuss, and Swift partially approved the lyric.
#KimExposedTaylorParty started to trend worldwide and Kardashian West, and her plethora of siblings who all jumped on the bandwagon, started to use the green snake emoji to further berate Swift.
The situation was made worse by the fact it wasn't long after she split from her boyfriend of 15 months, Scottish DJ, Calvin Harris, and he called her and her PR team out for being snaky when they announced that Swift had co-wrote his hit (with Rihanna on vocals) This Is What You Came For under the Swedish pseudonym, Nils Sjberg.
Showing they were never ever getting back together, Harris lashed out at the singer on Twitter, writing: "I figure if you're happy in your new relationship you should focus on that instead of trying to tear your ex-BF down for something to do."
Harris fans jumped online to defend his honour by using ... the snake emoji directed at Swift.
According to Wired, Swift's Instagram account became the first to filter unwanted comments and emojis and the vermin soon vanished.
With the snake (or a tail) in motion, it could also reference her BFF-turned-archenemy Katy Perry's song, Swish Swish, which is one long diss track directed right at Swift and a reply to Bad Blood, which Swift wrote about Perry.
After winning her groping trial and being more popular than ever again, it was the perfect time to embrace the reptile and turn it on its head by using it to gain traction for what's coming next - whatever that may be.
It's unknown how Kardashian West and ko. will react to a potential Swift album taking them on, but it's believed Kris Jenner is making her Calabasas bunker as comfortable as possible with room for Perry. Keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
