Taylor Swift Reignites Feud With Scooter Braun In Extraordinary Twitter Statement, Says He's Blocking Her From Using Old Hits

The singer has publicly called for her fans and other artists' support after she accused the pop manager of "exercising tyrannical control'.
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Stars including Lily Allen, Greg James and Gigi Hadid have come out in support of Taylor Swift after she reignited her row with Ariana Grande’s manager Scooter Braun.

The Shake It Off singer has accused Scooter and Scott Borchetta, the founder of her former record label, of blocking her from performing her old songs at this year’s American Music Awards.

Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift
Doug Peters/EMPICS Entertainment

Taylor also claims they are preventing archive performance footage from being used in an upcoming Netflix documentary about her career.

Scooter, whose clients also include Justin Bieber and Demi Lovato, acquired Taylor’s back catalogue earlier this year when he bought Scott Borchetta’s record label, Big Machine.

On Thursday, Taylor shared a passionate statement on her social media channels publicly calling for her fans and other artists to help her, by letting the two men “know how you feel about this”.

Don’t know what else to do pic.twitter.com/1uBrXwviTS

— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) November 14, 2019

She wrote: “I feel very strongly that sharing what is happening to me could change the awareness level for other artists and potentially help them avoid a similar fate.

“The message being sent to me is very clear. Basically, be a good little girl and shut up. Or you’ll be punished.

“This is WRONG. Neither of these men had a hand in the writing of those songs. They did nothing to create the relationship I have with my fans.”

She added: “I’m hoping that maybe they can talk some sense into the men who are exercising tyrannical control over someone who just wants to play the music she wrote.

“I just want to be able to perform MY OWN music. That’s it. I’ve tried to work this out privately though my team but have not been able to resolve anything.”

Scooter Braun (left) and Scott Borchetta
Scooter Braun (left) and Scott Borchetta
Kevin Mazur via Getty Images

After Taylor posted her statement, the hashtag #IStandWithTaylor started trending around the globe, with her fans and other artists quickly offering their support.

Lily Allen tweeted: “Solidarity with Taylor here, this sounds awful, and people wonder why music hasn’t had its #MeToo moment?”

Solidarity with Taylor here, this sounds awful, and people wonder why music hasn’t had its #MeToo moment ? https://t.co/lqfRVfhDYK

— LILY ALLEN 2.0 (@lilyallen) November 15, 2019

Radio 1 Breakfast host Greg James also spoke out, tweeting: “@scooterbraun @scottborchetta. This is embarrassing. Probs should sort this out ASAP I reckon. Also while I’ve got you, the Bieber verse on Bad Guy is an abomination.”

lol @scooterbraun @scottborchetta. This is embarrassing. Probs should sort this out ASAP I reckon. Also while I’ve got you, the Bieber verse on Bad Guy is an abomination. https://t.co/SwZcqgnp8R

— Greg James (@gregjames) November 15, 2019

American singer Halsey added: “These people are protected because they inspire complicity with fear. Banking on the illusion that people will not stand up for her. That the world will say she is overreacting, You’re barking up the wrong tree. It is her grace and patience in these moments that make her Artist of the Decade.”

Supermodel Gigi Hadid also lent her support for her friend, tweeting: “Scott and Scooter, you know what the right thing to do is. Taylor and her fans deserve to celebrate the music!!”

Scott and Scooter, you know what the right thing to do is 🙏🙏
Taylor and her fans deserve to celebrate the music!!

— Gigi Hadid (@GiGiHadid) November 15, 2019

Not cool at all 🤬@scottborchetta @scooterbraun https://t.co/Gu9rmolSL7

— Bobby Berk (@bobbyberk) November 15, 2019

Some people come into the entertainment business and only see the business. But this is business made of people, feelings, stories. If you can’t see the humanity of this world, you don’t belong here with us.

— Joseph Kahn (@JosephKahn) November 15, 2019

Taylor had been singed to Big Machine since her music career started as a teen, and the label owned the rights to her first six albums, including 2008’s Fearless and 2014’s 1989.

In June, Scooter Braun company’s Ithaca Holdings announced that it had acquired Big Machine Records in a deal believed to be worth around £237 million, meaning he owned the master recordings of all of Taylor’s previous releases.

Taylor signed with Universal Music Group in November last year, in a deal ensuring she maintained the rights to her work.

Big Machine Label Group and Scooter Braun have yet to respond.

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