In case you missed it, Taylor Swift has spoken out in denouncement of former record label boss, Scott Borchetta, and his new business partner, Scooter Braun, for the second time in five months.
Back in June, Taylor expressed devastation that her former record label, Big Machine, had been sold to Scooter for $300 million, meaning that he would own all of her master recordings "in perpetuity".
Since then, Taylor has revealed that she plans to re-record her first six albums when she is legally allowed to do so in November 2020.
However, today Taylor has released a lengthy statement claiming that Scott and Scooter are effectively holding her music hostage, preventing her from performing a medley of her hits at this year's AMAs where she's being honoured as Artist of the Decade.
Don’t know what else to do
She also claimed that Scott is blocking the use of her old music and performances in an upcoming documentary about her life and career.
Taylor went on to allege that Scott will only grant her permission to use her own music in both the performance and documentary if she agrees to two demands — firstly, she abandon the plan to re-record her masters next year, and secondly, she stop speaking publicly about him and Scooter Braun.
Taylor ended her statement with an impassioned plea for other musicians — especially those signed to Scooter's management company — to speak out in support of her, in the hopes the men might change their mind.
While none of the list of artists on Scooter's roster — which includes Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber and Demi Lovato — have so far said anything, here are the celebrities who have spoken up.
Taylor's best friend Selena Gomez released a lengthy statement revealing that she felt "sick" and "extremely angry" over the situation.
Halsey shared a statement on Instagram Stories in which she suggested Scooter and Scott's alleged actions were a "punishment" and an "attempt to silence" Taylor.
And Halsey went on to share another Story of herself singing along to Taylor Swift's "Mean".
HALSEY POSTED HER SINGING ‘MEAN’ ON HER INSTA STORY AFTER POSTING A RANT DEFENDING TAYLOR,,,, #IStandWithTaylor
Taylor's long-time friend Gigi Hadid took to Twitter to tell Scott and Scooter to "do the right thing" and allow Taylor's fans to "celebrate" her music.
Scott and Scooter, you know what the right thing to do is 🙏🙏 Taylor and her fans deserve to celebrate the music!!
Ruby Rose reposted Taylor's statement on Instagram alongside a message reading: "This is not OK."
Lily Allen said she stood in "solidarity" with Taylor, adding that the music industry is overdue its "own #MeToo movement".
Solidarity with Taylor here, this sounds awful, and people wonder why music hasn’t had its #MeToo moment ? https://t.co/lqfRVfhDYK
Lily went on to defend Taylor against people criticising her for not "reading the small print" of her original record contract, which she signed aged 15.
@Coachpmot Have you seen a recording contract ? I still don’t understand them !
"She was 16 or something," Lily added. "Not allowed to drink or have sex, but somehow allowed to sign away her life."
@barrywhite__ She was 16 or something. Not allowed to drink or have sex, but somehow allowed to sign away her life.
Joel Little — producer of four tracks on Taylor's latest album including "ME!" and "You Need To Calm Down" — described the situation as "unbelievable" and "completely messed up".
This is unbelievable and completely messed up. Let this amazing woman do what she wants with her amazing songs #IStandWithTaylor https://t.co/pVyVhsXwzO
Joseph Kahn — who's directed some of Taylor's most well-known music videos including "Bad Blood" and "Look What You Made Me Do" — branded Scott and Scooter "assholes".
These guys are assholes. How do they live with themselves? Why would anyone want to work with them? If you are an artist, why would you support them? https://t.co/GHV7zyMzzP
He added: "Scooter and Scott sold Carlyle Group on false premise: Taylor would cooperate on them buying her catalogue. She will not."
Scooter and Scott sold Carlyle Group on false premise: Taylor would cooperate on them buying her catalogue. She will not. This is a disaster for them. As businessmen they have to cut their losses and sell Taylor back her catalogue, otherwise it's negligence to their investors.
Cher tweeted Taylor to tell her that her experience is sadly nothing new.
@taylorswift13 ….BABE,THIS SHIT HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE MILLION SELLING ARTISTS WERE PAID OFF WITH A CADILLAC & A BOTTLE OF JACK‼️IM SORRY😘 SCOOTER 🤔
Todrick Hall reposted Taylor's statement on his Instagram Story alongside a message of his own reading: "This makes me soooo angry."
Sara Bareilles called the situation an "outrageous abuse of power".
outrageous abuse of power and completely unforgivable. #IStandWithTaylor https://t.co/ofvxs4gQiH
Ella Eyre said she was "so mad".
this is WILD i’m so mad https://t.co/rBeMYI0B8W
Tinashe responded to Taylor's statement directly, writing: "Fuck that. We're with you."
She went on to reply to a Taylor Swift fan who thanked her for speaking out by saying that the news had "genuinely" made her "sick to [her] stomach".
@topher_dixon @loversfallout @taylorswift13 It genuinely genuinely makes me sick to my stomach
Country star Jordan Pruitt suggested Scott and Scooter "focus [their sights] on things other than bullying the artist of this century".
The things that @scottborchetta + Scooter Braun are continuing to do to @taylorswift13 are not only wrong, they should be illegal! You “men” should focus your sights on things other than bullying the Artist of this CENTURY. LEAVE TAYLOR ALONE. PERIODT.
"#IStandWithTaylorAlways," she added in a second tweet.
#IStandWithTaylor ALWAYS. 🤘🏻
Queer Eye's Bobby Berk retweeted Taylor's statement alongside an angry emoji and the message: "Not cool at all".
Not cool at all 🤬 @scottborchetta @scooterbraun https://t.co/Gu9rmolSL7
And his co-star, Antoni Porowski, agreed.
Artists should be able to perform their music, let’s go damnit 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 * especially songs like Call It What You Want, New Year’s Day, Clean, and New Romantics, to name v few. https://t.co/dlJ9ChaI5I
One of Taylor's closest friends, Martha Hunt, wrote: "Taylor doesn't deserve for someone who has constantly BULLIED her to OWN THE RIGHTS to her blood, sweat and tears."
Taylor doesn’t deserve for someone who has constantly BULLIED her to OWN THE RIGHTS to her blood, sweat, + tears. It’s not the dark ages - artists shouldn’t be held down, and I couldn’t be prouder of my friend for standing up for what’s right. End of story.
She added: "Corporate power should not have the right to control what Taylor Swift can and can not do."
Corporate power should not have the right to control what @taylorswift13 can and can not do, and then have the audacity to deny their actions?!
Perez Hilton lamented the fact that so few "big name musicians" — including the few indirectly mentioned in her statement — had spoken out in support of Taylor.
Taylor Swift is always championing other artists and artists’ rights. It’s so disheartening to see so many big name musicians stay quiet tonight. Especially those that are her friends! Just liking a tweet is not enough!!
Camila Cabello shared an Instagram post saying she felt "heartbroken" that Taylor was being "robbed" of her life's work. "How can a record label do this to an artist?" she asked.
"I STAND WITH YOU," Hayley Kiyoko wrote after retweeting Taylor's statement.
I STAND WITH YOU ❤️❤️❤️ https://t.co/Ajp7wsun8x
Jameela Jamil said the situation was "really scary" and questioned what it meant for artists who aren't at Taylor's level of fame.
This is really scary. If this can happen to one of the biggest artists of all time, I cannot imagine the situation for newbies. https://t.co/8741ERb4Jq
Even politicians, including presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren...
Unfortunately, @TaylorSwift13 is one of many whose work has been threatened by a private equity firm. They're gobbling up more and more of our economy, costing jobs and crushing entire industries. It's time to rein in private equity firms—and I've got a plan for that. https://t.co/r2UD4CT1Ba
And Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez got involved.
Private equity groups’ predatory practices actively hurt millions of Americans. Their leveraged buyouts have destroyed the lives of retail workers across the country, scrapping 1+ million jobs. Now they’re holding @taylorswift13’s own music hostage. They need to be reigned in. https://t.co/mSVeH718Hn