• Todrick Hall talks to Billboard about his debut album, Forbidden. A two-hour visual album that consists of thirty songs and featured artists with a “story of persecution.”
• The concept album however, almost didn't come to be after several “crazy breakdowns” with doubt. Swift would help Todrick and his insecurities about the project:“I would go over to her house, and over cinnamon sticks from Domino's, she would just listen to me crying and thinking that this wasn’t possible. Every time I was dealing with major problems I'd call her, and I'm just so grateful that she'd take the time to sit down and listen to me vent.”
• Taylor Swift assured Todrick that the album was going to be a success and that his fans were going to love it.
• His music video for “Ordinary Day” depicts a black police officer shooting an unarmed white child while the rest of the neighborhood dance and go on about their day while his body remains in the street.
• “I wanted this to be uncomfortable for people to watch. You have to deal with the fact that they're doing this big production number, and his body is just laying right there,” adds Todrick.
• The street sign in the music video reads “Novyart,” or Trayvon spelled backwards.
• “It just seemed like his life didn't matter. Like he was some squirrel that someone had accidentally run over in some cul-de-sac and people were just waiting for someone to come clean it up.”
• Brandy, RuPaul, Tamar Braxton, Keala Settle, Tiffany Haddish and many more are featured on the album as Hall wanted to make sure to showcase black excellence.
Todrick Hall recently spoke about his friendship with Taylor Swift via @billboard - "Every time I was dealing with major problems I'd call her, and I'm just so grateful that she'd take the time to sit down and listen to me vent.” ❤️ https://t.co/txYI1BAFJjpic.twitter.com/JcBazxv7O7
— Taylor Swift | FOTP (@FOTPTaylorSwift) March 29, 2018
ONTD, do you have supportive friends?
Sources:1 | 2 | 3