Yes, a list of controversies. The pop singer is a worldwide sensation. People all around the globe love Taylor for her relatable songs and her relatable songs. She has also won the Grammy several times in a row, making her one of the most successful singers in the world. But even the Blank Space singer is not free from controversies. There have been several incidents with her and other sensational celebrities. Let us talk about some of them briefly. We promise you. This is going to be delightful.
Kanye West and the VMA Speech
In a memorable incident, Kanye West caused a stir at the VMA awards in 2009. While Taylor was accepting her ‘Best Female Video’ award, Kanye abruptly interrupted her speech, taking the microphone and declaring that Beyoncé deserved the award instead. This incident led to a feud between Taylor and Kanye, with other celebrities also joining in to criticize Taylor. Also, many celebrities took Taylor’s side. President Barack Obama even called Kanye a jackass later.
The Feud with Katy Perry
From 2008 to 2013, Taylor Swift and Katy Perry shared a close friendship as they both rose to fame. However, in 2013, their friendship seemed to have come to an end. The feud started when Taylor’s backup dancer joined Katy’s tour instead of Taylor’s. Additionally, Taylor was dating Katy’s ex-boyfriend, John Mayer, at that time, which added fuel to the fire.
Both singers publicly threw shade at each other and made negative comments. Taylor referred to Katy as her “straight-up enemy” in a Rolling Stone interview, while Katy tweeted about “Regina George in sheep’s clothing.” Taylor even released a song called Bad Blood, which fans speculated was about Katy.
Taylor vs Kim Kardashian
The Kanye West saga continued with the release of his song Famous in 2016. The controversial lyrics said, “I feel like me and Taylor might still have sex. Why? I made that b**ch famous.”
After the song came out, Taylor’s spokesperson released a statement saying that Kanye did not ask for her approval but instead requested her to promote his single “Famous” on her Twitter account. Taylor declined and warned him about the strong misogynistic message in the song. She was never informed about the actual lyric, “I made that bi**h famous.”
However, Kim Kardashian, Kanye West’s wife at that time, alleged that Taylor had approved the lyrics. This led to an even uglier spat between the two. The feud went on for quite some time.
Calvin Harris
This famous couple seemed perfect for each other, but their love only lasted for 15 months before things took a turn for the worse.
There were many rumors about why Harris and Swift broke up, including their age difference, Calvin feeling “intimidated” by Taylor’s success, and even rumors of Taylor cheating on Calvin with Tom Hiddleston.
To add fuel to the fire, Calvin went on a Twitter rampage, using strong language to criticize Taylor. He accused her of trying to make him “look bad” and compared her actions to what she did to Katy Perry.
Suing a Radio DJ for Assault
In 2017, Taylor Swift took a DJ from Colorado to court, accusing him of “groping” her during a meet-and-greet in 2013. The DJ, David Mueller, allegedly attempted to touch Taylor inappropriately under her skirt while they were taking a photo together. As a result of the accusations, the DJ lost his job and filed a defamation lawsuit against Taylor. Also, he claimed that she had wrongfully caused his termination. It was hot news.
In response, Taylor filed a counter-lawsuit against Mueller, alleging battery and sexual assault. After a challenging trial, Taylor emerged victorious and was awarded $1 million in compensation. Taking a stand for sexual assault victims worldwide, Taylor announced her intention to donate to “multiple organizations that support and empower survivors of sexual assault.”
Gathering Supporters for Allegations
In an interview with Rolling Stone, Taylor confirmed that her song Bad Blood was inspired by a female artist who had tried to undermine an entire arena tour. The music video for the song depicted Taylor confronting her female enemy with her group of friends, including Selena Gomez, Ellie Goulding, Gigi Hadid, Zendaya, and Ellen Pompeo. These celebrity appearances suggested that Taylor had influential allies in her feud with Perry.
Now, we get this looks and sounds childish. But you must understand that Taylor was affected greatly by her feud with Perry. And she needed some allies back then in the fight.
Always Dates Famous Men
Throughout her career, people have closely examined Taylor’s romantic relationships. She has been known to date well-known men, resulting in highly publicized heartbreaks. Taylor has been in relationships with Hollywood actors like Taylor Lautner, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Tom Hiddleston.
She has also dated musicians such as Joe Jonas, John Mayer, Harry Styles, and Calvin Harris. Recently, she has been involved with other famous celebrities like Joe Alwyn and Matt Healy. What’s more, she also blasts her exes with songs after their breakup. Great talent, turning grief into a song.
Quitting Spotify
In 2014, Taylor caused a stir by removing all her music from Spotify because she felt the royalties she received were too low. She didn’t like the idea of her music being available for free, so she decided to switch to Tidal.
In 2015, Taylor had a similar issue with Apple Music. They offered a three-month free trial to their customers, but initially, they didn’t plan to pay artists during this trial period. When Taylor voiced her disagreement, Apple changed their policy and announced that they would indeed pay royalties even for the trial period. As a result, Taylor made her music available on Apple Music.
The Feud with Scooter Braun
This one happened way back in 2019. Taylor was surprised when she found out Big Machine Records had sold her first six albums to producer Scooter Braun. News got out fast. Taylor started fighting to get the rights to her masters. She also called Scooter a “bully” and a “manipulator”.
But Braun decided to go a step further. He sold the albums to an investment group. This was beyond her control anymore. So Taylor immediately re-recorded her albums and got the top spot again with the new versions of the songs.
The Copyright Issue
Taylor faced a legal battle for five years when Sean Hall and Nathan Butler claimed that her hit song “Shake It Off” copied their song “Playas Gon’ Play.” They argued that the lyrics, such as “players gonna play, play, play, play, play” and “the haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate,” violated the copyright of their 2000 song, which contained similar lines.
In 2021, Taylor filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, but the court dismissed her lawsuit. However, in December 2022, they dropped the lawsuit without a final verdict. Taylor emerged victorious in the case.
Accused of Stealing The Folklore Logo
This happened in 2021. Amira Rasool, a small business owner, accused Taylor of stealing the logo of her business. However, Taylor acted pretty quickly this time. She immediately squashed all potential fights by announcing a generous contribution to the business. Also, she decided to pull off all her merchandise that could cause a dispute later on. A smart and bold move.
Fatphobia Accusations
Considering her body issues and eating disorders, we did not expect Taylor to engage in this one controversy. It is strange how it unfolded, though. Social media activists slammed a clip in her music video for Anti-Hero as fatphobic. Why? Simply because it showed her standing on a weighing machine labeled fat while another doppelganger kept staring at her in disappointment. Taylor tried to tell everyone it described her intrusive thoughts. But then, people on social media hardly listen to anyone do they?
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