Tumblr faces backlash after omitting Halsey from 19th birthday highlights

Tumblr has issued an apology to singer and songwriter Halsey after the pop star was omitted from the platform’s 19th anniversary celebrations.

The social media blogging site marked the milestone on Friday, February 27, with a highlight reel featuring major artists like One Direction, Lana Del Rey, and The Weeknd. 

However, Halsey, who has been a prominent Tumblr user for over a decade, was not included.

Responding with playful frustration on X (formerly Twitter), Halsey wrote, “I keep your lights on for years and this is the thanks I get.” 

Fans quickly chimed in, joking that Tumblr was attempting to “erase” the singer, with others noting that “the disrespect is insane.”

Tumblr replied with a lighthearted statement:

“Halsey, we are deeply sorry you were not included in our 19th birthday edit. You are and have forever been a pillar of our platform and yes, for lack of better words, ‘keeping our lights on for years.’ We would never, as you once put it, intentionally swerve you. At just 19, we’re still learning and growing. We promise this will never happen again. We hope you can find it in your heart to forgive us. With love, Tumblr.”

Halsey has long used Tumblr as a creative outlet, sharing poetry, musings, and early drafts of songs. 

Some of these posts later inspired tracks like Lonely Is the Muse from their album The Great Impersonator.

Originally active under the username Se7enteenblack, Halsey’s account was deactivated in August 2015, just weeks before the release of their debut album Badlands. 

They later launched a new account, acknowledging the challenge of deciding which personal writings to post online versus save for their music.

Reflecting on their return to Tumblr in June 2024, Halsey wrote, “I came back to Tumblr when it all went down, because I think something special happens here. This is the quiet space in between screaming observation and lethargic loneliness. It’s shared solitude. The platform gave me everything once upon a time, so many years ago. It felt right to return in my weakest moment.”