Selena Gomez is weighed in Friday on Taylor Swift’s public battle against Scott Borchetta and Scott “Scooter” Braun.
The pop star with 161 million Instagram followers shared a statement in which she said she was “sick and extremely angry” that Swift has to fight for the right to perform her own songs.
On Thursday night, Swift revealed that her scheduled performance on the American Music Awards – where she is set to be honoured as Artist of the Decade – is “a question mark” because she is being blocked by Borchetta and Braun, who own the rights to her early music.
“I’ve been planning to perform a medley of my hits throughout the decade on the show,” she explained. “Scott Borchetta and Scooter Braun have now said that I’m not allowed to perform my old songs on television because they claim that would be re-recording my music before I’m allowed to next year.”
MORE: Taylor Swift Claims She's Being Blocked From Performing Early Hits
In August, Swift said as of November 2020 she will be able to record new versions of her early songs to reduce the amount of royalties Braun will earn.
Gomez said she was speaking up in support of Swift, even if it subjects her to retaliation.
“It’s greed, manipulation and power,” she wrote. “No respect for the words my friend has written since she was a 14 year old in her bedroom. You’ve robbed and crushed one of our best song writers of our time an opportunity to celebrate all of her music with fans and the world.”
Camila Cabello also shared a message via Instagram Story. "It feels heartbreaking and like the world is being robbed of something important and beautiful that she can’t sing these songs, her life’s work, with her fans,” she wrote.
“A record label can’t be allowed to do this to an artist…whatever needs to happen to get this situation fixed, needs to happen.”
Earlier, Halsey showed support on social media. ”This is just mean," Halsey opined in an Instagram Story. "This is punishment. This is hoping to silence her from speaking about things by dangling this over her head.”
Brendon Urie, who recorded “ME!” with Swift, said in a livestream: ”It just like broke my heart, I read Taylor’s statement and I was like, ‘That sounds about right.’ Toxic dudes doing toxic bulls**t in this toxic industry.”
None of the major artists Braun manages, including Demi Lovato, Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber have publicly commented on Swift’s ordeal. On Friday, Bieber shared on Instagram a screenshot of a TMZ article that says Swift is, in fact, free to perform her early songs on the AMAs.
Early Friday, Big Machine Label Group (BMLG) responded to Swift’s statement with one of its own.
“Taylor, the narrative you have created does not exist,” it read.
“At no point did we say Taylor could not perform on the AMAs or block her Netflix special. In fact, we do not have the right to keep her from performing live anywhere.”
BMLG claimed Swift owes “millions of dollars and multiple assets to our company” and said her message urging fans to share their feelings with Borchetta and Braun was “greatly affects the safety of our employees and their families.”
BMLG claimed Swift has refused opportunities to speak directly with the company and resolve issues.
“When that happens, you will see there is nothing but respect, kindness and support waiting for you on the other side,” read the statement. “Rumors fester in the absence of communication. Let’s not have that continue here. We share the collective goal of giving your fans the entertainment they both want and deserve.”
Early Friday, Big Machine Label Group (BMLG) responded to Swift’s statement with one of its own.
“Taylor, the narrative you have created does not exist,” it read.
“At no point did we say Taylor could not perform on the AMAs or block her Netflix special. In fact, we do not have the right to keep her from performing live anywhere.”
BMLG claimed Swift owes “millions of dollars and multiple assets to our company” and said her message urging fans to share their feelings with Borchetta and Braun was “greatly affects the safety of our employees and their families.”
BMLG claimed Swift has refused opportunities to speak directly with the company and resolve issues.
“When that happens, you will see there is nothing but respect, kindness and support waiting for you on the other side,” read the statement. “Rumors fester in the absence of communication. Let’s not have that continue here. We share the collective goal of giving your fans the entertainment they both want and deserve.”
Swift’s rep Tree Paine countered that a BMLG executive, whom she did not name, advised the singer’s team on Oct. 28 that the company “will not agree to issue licenses for existing recordings or waivers of its re-recording restrictions” for the Netflix documentary. Paine said Borchetta “flatly denied the request for both American Music Awards and Netflix” on Thursday.
“Please notice in Big Machine’s statement, they never actually deny either claim Taylor said last night in her post.”
Paine added that Swift does not owe BMLG and, in fact, an independent auditor determined that the label owes Swift $7.9 million U.S. in unpaid royalties.