A new study has revealed that Beyoncé and Taylor Swift have the most divisive fanbases, sparking heated online debates in 2024. The research, conducted by QR Code Generator, examined fan engagement on Reddit’s r/popculturechat, focusing on the most Googled celebrities of the year from music, film, and sports. The study calculated a “net upvote percentage” by measuring upvotes and downvotes on posts about these celebrities to determine which fanbases generate the most mixed reactions.
Beyoncé’s loyal fanbase, the Bey Hive, topped the list as the most polarising. Despite her global stardom and massive following, discussions about the singer on the subreddit often ignite contrasting opinions. The study reviewed 54 posts about the iconic singer, which received a total of 182,792 upvotes and 38,295 downvotes, resulting in a net upvote percentage of 65.4%. This figure suggests that Beyoncé-related content is highly divisive, with fans frequently disagreeing on topics about their idol. Despite her contentious status, Beyoncé ranked 26th in overall fan engagement, with an average of 4,094 votes per post.
Taylor Swift came in as the second-most divisive celebrity, according to the study. The international pop sensation generated 129 posts, garnering 3,537,125 upvotes and 684,846 downvotes, resulting in a net upvote percentage of 67.6%. Although Swift enjoys a huge fanbase and ranks second in engagement, with an average of 32,728 votes per post, her fan community—Swifties—appear to be split over content about her.
American football star Travis Kelce, who gained increased attention for his relationship with Swift, was ranked third on the list. Kelce’s fanbase has become more divided following his association with the singer. The study found 135 posts mentioning him, which attracted 610,492 upvotes and 89,799 downvotes, leading to a net upvote percentage of 74.4%.
Table 1: Celebrities with the most divisive fanbases of 2024
| Rank | Celebrity | Net upvote percentage | Engagement rank (/103) |
| 1 | Beyonce | 65.4% | 26 |
| 2 | Taylor Swift | 67.6% | 2 |
| 3 | Travis Kelce | 74.4% | 16 |
| 4 | Elon Musk | 76.2% | 1 |
| 5 | Tom Cruise | 76.9% | 6 |
| 6 | Billie Eilish | 78.6% | 14 |
| 7 | Lizzo | 80.0% | 81 |
| 8 | Zendaya | 80.3% | 13 |
| 9 | Johnny Depp | 80.4% | 75 |
| 10 | Clint Eastwood | 81.0% | 69 |
Tech entrepreneur and billionaire Elon Musk took fourth place, proving that his high-profile persona also stirs debate. Musk, whose ventures include Tesla and SpaceX, generated 100 posts with 3,384,072 upvotes and 456,717 downvotes, giving him a net upvote percentage of 76.2%. Interestingly, Musk ranked first in overall engagement, with an average of 38,408 votes per post, demonstrating that, despite his polarising nature, discussions about him draw high interest.
In fifth place was Hollywood actor Tom Cruise, who remains a controversial figure even after decades in the spotlight. The study analysed 138 posts about the actor, which received 918,395 upvotes and 120,028 downvotes. This gave Cruise a net upvote percentage of 76.9%, placing him just behind Musk in terms of divisiveness.
At the other end of the spectrum, Alexandra Daddario, star of Percy Jackson and The White Lotus, was revealed as the celebrity with the least polarising fanbase. Her posts on the subreddit accumulated a net upvote percentage of 96%. Salma Hayek and Gen Z singer Ice Spice also ranked among the least controversial celebrities.
The study underscores how fan communities, particularly for female celebrities, often engage in polarised discussions, with Beyoncé and Taylor Swift sparking the most debate. According to Marc Porcar, CEO of QR Code Generator, “Female celebrities tend to face more polarising reactions compared to their male counterparts, as seen in the data.”
This research sheds light on the online discourse surrounding today’s most popular celebrities and highlights the often volatile nature of fan engagement.