A Texas man is going viral after bidding on a guitar signed by Taylor Swift and then smashing it with a hammer.The video, which has since been shared on multiple social media networks, shows the man grab the guitar after placing the winning bid of $4,000 and attempting to break it into pieces.
“When the man announced his intention to smash it the camera phones came out,” an event attendee told The Independent.
The viral moment happened at the Ellis County Wild Game Dinner in Waxahachie, Texas on September 28. The event acted as a fundraiser to support agricultural and rural education for the local youth.
Tickets to see George Strait and Chris Stapleton, an African safari, a trip to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, and the Taylor Swift guitar were among the prizes being auctioned off.
When it came time to start the bidding on the Taylor Swift guitar, one man offered $3,200 for the signed guitar. According to the event organizer, the winning bidder paid $4,000 for the item.
In the viral video, the winner can be seen approaching the stage to claim the guitar. As he grabs the guitar, he is also handed a hammer which he takes and swiftly begins hitting against the instrument.
Some viewers have suggested the man beat the guitar due to Swift’s recent endorsement of Kamala Harris, though according to TMZ the guitar was donated well before Swift made her announcement.
The man’s actions sparked a debate with some people applauding him for destroying the guitar and others saying he should have donated his money directly to charity.
“What a waste of money,” one person wrote.
“It wasn’t a waste of $$ at all! The $4,000 he spent did go to the kids. The proceeds for the dinner went to the Future Farmers of America,” another chimed in.
What do you think of this man’s actions? Let us know in the comments.
LEGENDARY ACTOR JAMES EARL JONES, VOICE OF DARTH VADER, DIES AT 93—FANS DEVASTATED
James Earl Jones, the famous actor known for his deep, powerful voice as Darth Vader in *Star Wars* and Mufasa in *The Lion King*, has died at 93.
Jones was considered one of the greatest actors of his time, with a career that covered everything from Shakespeare plays to major Hollywood movies. He was one of the few actors to win an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award, showing his incredible talent.
His death was reported by *Deadline*, through his representatives at Independent Artist Group.
James Earl Jones was born on January 17, 1931, in Arkabutla, Mississippi, and grew up with his grandparents in Dublin, Michigan. Despite becoming one of the most famous voices in the world, he struggled with a stutter as a child.
“I couldn’t talk,” Jones shared in a 1996 interview. “My first year of school, I didn’t speak, and this continued until high school.” A teacher helped him overcome his stutter by encouraging him to read poetry out loud.
After serving in the US Army during the Korean War, Jones decided to follow his passion for acting. He studied at the American Theatre Wing, supporting himself by working as a janitor. By the 1960s, he was recognized as one of the great Shakespearean actors of his time, playing famous roles like Othello and King Lear. He also made his film debut in the 1964 Stanley Kubrick movie *Dr. Strangelove*, playing Lt. Lothar Zogg.
In 1967, James Earl Jones played a boxer in *The Great White Hope*, a role that earned him the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play. He later played the same role in the 1970 movie version and received his first Oscar nomination for it.
While he had many great acting roles, Jones became most famous for one where he didn’t even appear on screen: the voice of Darth Vader in *Star Wars*. Though another actor, David Prowse, wore the costume, Jones provided the deep, powerful voice that made Darth Vader one of the most unforgettable characters in movie history.
James Earl Jones initially chose not to be credited for his role as Darth Vader, but it has become one of his most famous performances. He continued to voice Vader for many years, including in the sequels *The Empire Strikes Back* and *Return of the Jedi*, the prequel *Revenge of the Sith*, and the spin-off *Rogue One*. In 2022, Jones retired from voicing Vader but agreed to let his voice be used in future projects through artificial intelligence and old recordings.
Jones also voiced another beloved character, Mufasa, in Disney’s 1994 film *The Lion King*. He returned to voice Mufasa again in the 2019 remake.
In the 1980s and 1990s, James Earl Jones appeared in many popular movies like *Conan the Barbarian*, *Coming to America*, *Field of Dreams*, *The Hunt for Red October*, *Patriot Games*, and *The Sandlot*. He also won his second Tony Award for his role in the original production of August Wilson’s play *Fences*.
Jones received eight Emmy Award nominations for his TV work and won twice in 1991: once for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie for *Heat Wave*, and once for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for *Gabriel’s Fire*.
He also kept performing on Broadway, starring in revivals of plays such as *On Golden Pond*, *Cat on a Hot Tin Roof*, *Driving Miss Daisy*, *The Best Man*, and *You Can’t Take It With You* over the past 20 years.
James Earl Jones received many awards and honors during his impressive career. In 2011, he was given an Honorary Academy Award, joining a special group of people who have won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award, known as “EGOT.” In 2022, Broadway’s Cort Theatre was renamed the James Earl Jones Theatre in his honor.
Rest in peace to the legendary James Earl Jones, one of the greatest actors of our time. Please share this story to remember him.
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