Looks like there’s gonna be some Bad Blood for a while…
In the week leading up to the release of her new album Reputation, all eyes should be on Taylor Swift’s musical prowess/plague upon the land (delete as appropriate).
Instead, everyone’s attention is on the fact that Taylor Swift got her lawyer to send a cease-and-desist letter to a blogger who had written something the singer deemed unflattering.
In the article titled “Swiftly to the alt-right: Taylor subtly gets the lower case kkk in formation“, writer Meghan Herning wrote while discussing T-Swift’s recent single ‘Look What You Made Me Do’, and how the song had essentially been co-opted by White Supremacists in America.
Herning read into the lyrics of the song – “I don’t like your kingdom keys. They once belonged to me. You asked me for a place to sleep. Locked me out and threw a feast.” – as having the same basic definition as White Supremacist’s chant of “We will not be replaced”.
After the publication of the article, Swift got her lawyer to send a cease-and-desist letter to Herning’s website, telling them to take the post down or find themselves at risk of litigation.
Additionally, they told Herning and the site not to publish the cease-and-desist letter as it would violate copyright law.
Unsure what to do next, Herning went to the American Civil Liberties Union, and not only did the ACLU support Herning, they also published the most fantastic reply.
In amongst the legal jargon, ACLU attorney Matt Cagle wrote the following:
Intimidation tactics like these are unacceptable. Not in her wildest dreams can Ms. Swift use copyright law to suppress this exposure of a threat to constitutionally protected speech. […] Criticism is never pleasant, but a celebrity has to shake it off, even if the critique may damage her reputation.
Your move, Taylor.
