Sharon Stone Tells Audience Why Taylor Swift Remains Likeable: 'Because She's Decent'

Sharon Stone offered a quietly powerful explanation for Taylor Swift's enduring popularity during a heartfelt acceptance speech in Hollywood, telling audiences that Swift's global appeal has less to do with fame and more to do with something rarer: decency.

Speaking at the Hollywood Creative Alliance's 9th Annual Astra Film Awards, where she received the Timeless Award for her lasting impact on film and television, Stone used the moment not to celebrate celebrity, but to challenge it. Her message was simple, pointed and instantly relatable.

'You know why you like Taylor Swift?' she asked the room. 'Because she's decent.'

The line drew applause, not because it flattered Swift, but because it articulated something audiences instinctively recognise.

Why Stone Brought Up Taylor Swift

While accepting the Timeless Award, an honour recognising enduring influence and achievement in film and television, Stone delivered a candid, nearly ten-minute address that blended career anecdotes with life lessons.

Partway through the speech, she posed a question to the audience that served as a pivot point: 'You know why you like Taylor Swift? Because she's decent'.

For fans, it proved that Stone wasn't simply offering a compliment; she was using the singer as an example of how human decency builds lasting admiration worldwide.

Swift has developed a public reputation for generosity and respectful interactions with fans and workers, including documented gestures during her Eras Tour, where she acknowledged and supported venue staff and tour crews, offered bonuses to her team, and even tipped workers at events such as the Buffalo Bills' game at Highmark Stadium.

What Stone Meant by 'Be Decent'

In her speech, Stone tied Swift's decency to how people in positions of influence should behave. She suggested that being decent surpasses shallow metrics like social media likes, saying that true 'timeless' character shows in everyday interactions.

'Be decent', she told the crowd, noting that kindness and respect should be part of how celebrities and audiences carry themselves beyond the stage or screen.

Stone's speech also included reflections on her early life in Pennsylvania and the challenges she faced in her own career, but the Swift reference served as a concrete example that her audience could recognise immediately.

Swift's Public Reputation for Kindness

As fans of the Opalite singer said, anyone who has met Swift has only nice things to say about her work ethic and personality.

Earlier in 2025, Swift visited Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital in Florida, spending time with young patients and encouraging families despite their situation. Her visit inspired fans to donate to GoFundMe campaigns supporting children treated at the hospital.

Her historic Eras Tour has not only delighted fans but also the team behind the shows. Swift reportedly gave a massive bonus to each crew member on each leg, recognising their tireless work on staging, logistics, and technical support. Industry insiders said these bonuses were above standard touring rates, while other artists don't even bother to share bonuses despite raking in millions.

In December 2025, Swift stopped during a Kansas City Chiefs game to personally thank staff working on Christmas Day. She quietly gave at least £470 ($600) to a catering employee who had spent the same amount buying gifts for her eight children. The worker described Swift and her fiancé, Travis Kelce, as 'beautifully kind people' for taking the time to express appreciation and provide financial support.

Over the 2025 holiday season, Swift was on a donation spree. She donated $1 million (£785,000) each to Feeding America and the American Heart Association, helping address food insecurity and support heart health research. Charity leaders praised these contributions as impactful, noting that her generosity has inspired others, likely her massive fanbase, to donate as well.

Additional beneficiaries were MusiCares, ACM Lifting Lives, CMA Foundation, Operation Breakthrough in Kansas City, and more.

Why the Moment Landed

Stone's remark cut through because it named something audiences feel but rarely articulate. In an era of polarisation and performative outrage, Swift's consistency, restraint and generosity stand out.

By framing Swift's appeal around decency rather than talent or dominance, Stone reframed what it means to be 'timeless'. Not louder. Not richer. Just decent.

For a room full of stars — and a public increasingly sceptical of celebrity culture — it was a reminder that kindness still carries weight.