Dancer and singer Todrick Hall defended his friend Taylor Swift after she expressed she feels “grossed out” that talent manager Scooter Braun acquired the rights to her old music.
On Sunday, it was announced that Braun has purchased Swift’s old label Big Machine Records and therefore owns the masters of her early albums.
Swift, who claims she found out about the deal when the news broke, took to Tumblr to slam Braun.
“For years I asked, pleaded for a chance to own my work,” Swift wrote. “Instead I was given an opportunity to sign back up to Big Machine Records and ‘earn’ one album back at a time, one for every new one I turned in. I walked away because I knew once I signed that contract, [Big Machine president] Scott Borchetta would sell the label, thereby selling me and my future. I had to make the excruciating choice to leave behind my past. Music I wrote on my bedroom floor and videos I dreamed up and paid for from the money I earned playing in bars, then clubs, then arenas, then stadiums.”
She continued: “Scooter has stripped me of my life’s work, that I wasn’t given an opportunity to buy. Essentially, my musical legacy is about to lie in the hands of someone who tried to dismantle it,” she wrote. “This is my worst case scenario. This is what happens when you sign a deal at fifteen to someone for whom the term ‘loyalty’ is clearly just a contractual concept. And when that man says ‘Music has value’, he means its value is beholden to men who had no part in creating it.”
Hall, who appeared in Swift’s pro-LGBTQ anthem “You Need to Calm Down,” came to Swift’s defense and accused Braun of being homophobic. He also explained that he is no longer represented by Braun.
“For those asking, I left Scooter Braun a long time ago…I am saddened by this news, but not shocked. He is an evil person who’s (sic) only concern is his wealth and feeding his disgusting ego. I believe he is homophobic & I know from his own mouth that he is not a Swift fan,” Hall posted on Twitter. “I truly hope justice is served and that my friend’s music will fall into the hands of a better human,” he tweeted. “I would normally not say anything because I’m sure scooter will threaten me like he has before to keep me quiet, but guess what Scooter, nothing you can do to me would be worst (sic) than the 6 years of my life I can’t get back from when & I was ignored as your ‘artist.”
For those asking, I left Scooter Braun a long time ago…I am saddened by this news, but not shocked. He is an evil person who’s only concern is his wealth and feeding his disgusting ego. I believe he is homophobic & I know from his own mouth that he is not a Swift fan.
— Todrick Hall (@todrick) June 30, 2019
I truly hope justice is served and that my friend’s music will fall into the hands of a better human.
— Todrick Hall (@todrick) June 30, 2019
An employee of Braun’s called Hall’s tweet “disgusting and defamatory” and accused Hall of stealing from fans on his Christmas tour. The employee also claims that Hall was dropped and didn’t leave on his own accord.
@todrick this is disgusting and defamatory statement. We dropped you after finding out you were stealing from your fans on your Christmas tour. Scooter has been nothing but supportive of all disenfranchised groups. He is against dishonesty. Not those living in their truth.
— Allison K Scarinzi (@AllisonKaye) July 1, 2019
Then Hall posted a screenshot of an email he sent to Braun informing him that he would be looking for other representation.
Welp, I guess they let me go…also I’d like to say this was TWO YEARS after I did the Christmas tour and supposedly stole from my fans 🙄 pic.twitter.com/CEzL7Gluvh
— Todrick Hall (@todrick) July 1, 2019
Demi Lovato, who hired Braun as her manager in May, defended Braun against Hall’s homophobic claims on her Instagram story.
“Hey boo, idk you or anything and this isn’t hate, but making claims that someone is homophobic is really serious,” Lovato wrote. “Please don’t spread information that isn’t true because I can guarantee you Scooter isn’t. As a member of the LGBTQ+ community myself, he wouldn’t have signed me if he was. No hate just trying to clear that up.”
Hall responded tweeting, “Just because you have a black friend doesn’t mean you can’t still be racist. And just because you’re not picketing against gay marriage doesn’t mean you’re not homophobic. I said what I said and I believe what I believe. Also, stop using your one client who identifies as queer to stand up for you. There’s no way Demi saw my tweet, that means someone from your team is reaching out to them, using them to defend you. Fight your own battles.”
PSA, Just because you have a black friend doesn't mean you can't still be racist. And just because you're not picketing against gay marriage doesn't mean you're not homophobic. I said what I said and I believe what I believe.
— Todrick Hall (@todrick) July 1, 2019
Also, stop using your one client who identifies as queer to stand up for you. There's no way Demi saw my tweet, that means someone from your team is reaching out to them, using them to defend you. Fight your own battles.
— Todrick Hall (@todrick) July 1, 2019
Braun is also the manager for Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande.
