In what appeared to be endorsing the prevalent idea that some sexual assault doesn’t deserve consequences, during court proceedings Mueller’s legal team asked Swift how she felt about the fact he’d lost his job over the incident, to which she forcefully replied: “I’m not going to let you or your client make me feel in any way that this is my fault.

“Here we are years later, and I’m being blamed for the unfortunate events of his life that are the product of his decisions – not mine.”

His team also tried to suggest that Swift not stopping the meet-and-greet event indicated she was not distressed, to which she replied that she didn’t want to ruin the experience for other fans already in the room. She added that – like many other victims of assault – she was stunned by the incident, saying: “A light switched off in my personality. I just said in a monotone voice, ‘Thank you for coming.’”

The ‘freeze’ response is common in sexual assault victims – many of whom find themselves defending their reactions, clothing and time it takes to report the event – and is an involuntary, biological response to threat.

Yes, Swift’s experience lasted seconds, and yes, worse things happen, but each instance of assault leaves a person humiliated, angry, violated and upset – and contributes to a larger societal perception that women’s bodies are public property. That women’s wants, needs and comforts are not as important as men’s, that their wish not to be touched or catcalled or harassed is just not worth listening to.

Taylor Swift’s sexual assault case win is for “anyone who feels silenced”