Taylor Swiftsent the internet ablaze Sunday with ascathing Tumblr postthat described, in detail, her frustration overScooter Braunacquiring her musical catalog in a $300 million sale.
The “You Need to Calm Down” singer accused Braun of being a bully, and said it was her “worst case scenario” that he was the one who now owned her masters, drawing praise from some and criticism from others.
Here’s everything you need to know about the situation.
It Started with a Purchase
Before she left for Universal Music Group late last year, Swift, 29, was Big Machine Label Group’s marquee name, having signed with Scott Borchetta’s record label when she was just 15 years old.
Taylor Swift, Scooter Braun.Leon Bennett/FilmMagic; John Salangsang/Variety/Shutterstock
Scott Borchetta and Scooter Braun.Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
What’s Swift’s Problem with Braun?
Swift was particularly upset that it was Braun who purchased her musical catalog from Borchetta, as she accused the manager of “incessant, manipulative bullying” over the years.
Taylor Swift/Tumblr
“Like whenKim Kardashianorchestrated an illegally recorded snippet of a phone call to be leaked and then Scooter got his two clients together to bully me online about it,” Swift wrote on Tumblr. “Or when his client,Kanye West, organized a revenge porn music video which strips my body naked.”
Swift was referring to a 2016 Instagram post that showedJustin Bieberon a Facetime call with Braun and West, with the caption, “Taylor swift what up.” (Bieber deleted the caption after Swift posted it on Tumblr.)
She included a screenshot of the Instagram with her Tumblr note, and circled Braun’s face in red, writing, “This is Scooter Braun, bullying me on social media when I was at my lowest point. He’s about to own all the music I’ve ever made.”
The “revenge porn,” meanwhile, refers to West’s “Famous” music video, which featured a nude mannequin that resembled Swift.
Taylor Swift, Kanye West, Kim Kardashian.Kevin Mazur/WireImage
Is Taylor Swift Mad at Scott Borchetta, Too?
While much of Swift’s anger was directed at Braun, she did express disappointment in Borchetta for agreeing to sell to Braun.
Swift argued that Borchetta was well aware of her issues with the executive, and considered Braun owning her catalog a “worst case scenario.”
“This is what happens when you sign a deal at 15 to someone for whom the term ‘loyalty’ is clearly just a contractual concept,” she wrote, referring to Borchetta. “When I left my masters in Scott’s hands, I made peace with the fact that eventually he would sell them. Never in my worst nightmares did I imagine the buyer would be Scooter.”
She continued, “Any time Scott Borchetta has heard the words ‘Scooter Braun’ escape my lips, it was when I was either crying or trying not to. He knew what he was doing; they both did. Controlling a woman who didn’t want to be associated with them. In perpetuity. That means forever.”
Gregg DeGuire/FilmMagic
What Does Scooter Braun Have to Say?
Braun has yet to speak publicly about Swift’s claims, though Borchettashared his side of the storyand disputed Swift’s recollection of events.
“Was I aware of some prior issues between Taylor andJustin Bieber? Yes. But there were also times where Taylor knew that I was close to Scooter and that Scooter was a very good source of information for upcoming album releases, tours, etc, and I’d reach out to him for information on our behalf.”
RELATED VIDEO:Taylor Swift’s Rep Says Singer Learned of Scooter Braun’s Purchase from News When She Woke Up
“Scooter has always been and will continue to be a supporter and honest custodian for Taylor and her music,” Borchetta wrote.
Braun’s wife, Yael Cohen Braun, alsopublicly addressed the situation, calling out the singer for doing the very thing she accused Braun of doing.
“I have never been one for a public airing of laundry, but when you attack my husband… here we go,” she wrote on Instagram.
“Girl, who are you to talk about bullying? The world has watched you collect and drop friends like wilted flowers. My husband is anything but a bully, he’s spent his life standing up for people and causes he believes in,” Yael wrote. “Beyond that, it’s easy to see that the point of putting this out was to get to bully him. You are supposed to be a role model, but continue to model bullying.”
Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty; Steve Granitz/WireImage; Chance Yeh/Getty; Angela Weiss/AFP/Getty
Where Do Celebrities Stand?
Braun immediately found support in two of his most famous clients:Justin BieberandDemi Lovato, the latter of whom called him “a good man” on Instagram.
As he was mentioned directly in Swift’s post as being one of the people who helped Braun bully her, Bieber initially issued an apology on Instagram, claiming he thought his 2016 Instagram post was funny, but now realized it was “distasteful and insensitive.”
Bieber went on, however, to defend Braun and question Swift’s goals in publishing her note.
Other stars like Halsey, Iggy Azalea, Todrick Hall and Martha Hunt have alsoexpressed support for Swifton social media.
Why Did Taylor Share the Note?
Swift explained in her message that her goal in going public with her situation was to shine a light on the issue in order for up-and-coming stars to not make the same mistakes she did in signing away her ownership rights as a teenager.
“Hopefully, young artists or kids with musical dreams will read this and learn about how to better protect themselves in a negotiation,” she wrote. “You deserve to own the art you make.”
source: people.com
