As Taylor Swift's feud with Big Machine's Scooter Braun and Scott Borchetta escalates, fellow artists have begun speaking out on her behalf.
Taylor's close friend of 13 years, Selena Gomez, posted a lengthy message on her Instagram story. She addressed the new owners of Taylor's back catalog, whom Taylor alleges are preventing her from singing a medley of her previous hits on the AMAs.
"You've robbed and crushed one of our best songwriters of our time an opportunity to celebrate all of her music with fans and the world," she wrote in part.
(MORE: Taylor Swift says Scooter Braun and Scott Borchetta won't let her sing her hits at the AMAs)Gomez went on to call Swift "the most dedicated, fearless, feisty, strongest woman I've ever known," adding that she hopes there is a "change of heart over this unfortunate situation."
📲 IG | Selena Gomez showing her support for Taylor via Instagram story #IStandWithTaylor
— Taylor Swift News (@TSwiftNZ) November 15, 2019
"I have known Taylor for 13 years. She is the most dedicated, fearless, feisty, strongest woman I've ever known (...) Taylor fights. She will never stop fighting. I love you." pic.twitter.com/MlRbyiUM9o
Halsey similarly spoke up on her Instagram story, calling Braun and Borchetta's decision "an awful business move" and "just mean."
She went on to post a video of herself singing along to Taylor's song "Mean."
📲 IG | Halsey supporting Taylor via Instagram story #IStandWithTaylor
— Taylor Swift News (@TSwiftNZ) November 15, 2019
“It is her grace and patience in these moments that make her Artist of the Decade.” pic.twitter.com/zC12Yq2x9G
In a statement Friday, Big Machine denied Swift's allegations.
"As Taylor Swift's partner for over a decade, we were shocked to see her tumblr statements yesterday based on false information," the statement said. "At no point did we say Taylor could not perform on the AMAs or block her Netflix special."
Swift's camp then issued a response claiming Big Machine Label Group sent her team a message that it would "not agree to issue licenses for existing recordings or waivers of its re-recording restrictions" in connection with her Netflix documentary or the Alibaba “Double Eleven” event she performed at on Nov. 11.
"To avoid an argument over rights, Taylor performed three songs off her new album Lover at the Double Eleven event as it was clear that Big Machine Label Group felt any televised performance of catalog songs violated her agreement," the statement continues. "In addition, yesterday Scott Borchetta, CEO and founder of Big Machine Label Group, flatly denied the request for both American Music Awards and Netflix."
Here are some stars who have spoken out in support of Swift so far:
Camila Cabello: 'A record label can't be allowed to do this to an artist...'
📲 IG | Camila Cabello showing her support for Taylor via Instagram story #IStandWithTaylor
— Taylor Swift News (@TSwiftNZ) November 15, 2019
"A record label can't be allowed to do this to an artist...💔💔" pic.twitter.com/AYaNpO1YUb
Sara Bareilles: 'Outrageous abuse of power and completely unforgivable. #IStandWithTaylor'
outrageous abuse of power and completely unforgivable. #IStandWithTaylor https://t.co/ofvxs4gQiH
— Sara Bareilles (@SaraBareilles) November 15, 2019
Gigi Hadid: '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 🙏🙏
— Gigi Hadid (@GiGiHadid) November 15, 2019
Taylor and her fans deserve to celebrate the music!!
Lily Allen: '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
Jameela Jamil: 'If this can happen to one of the biggest artists of all time, I cannot imagine the situation for newbies'
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
— Jameela Jamil 🌈 (@jameelajamil) November 15, 2019
