Taylor Swift’s fans recently called out Scott Borchetta, her former collaborator, for posting a tribute celebrating two decades since he first met her. Borchetta, who was once Swift’s mentor and the founder of Big Machine Records, posted a throwback photo on Instagram to commemorate the moment. In his message, he reflected on how meeting her had “changed both of their lives” and expressed how proud he was of her success, both during their time working together and in her current career. He ended the post encouraging her to “keep crushing it.”
However, Swift’s fans were far from receptive. Many criticized Borchetta’s post, viewing it as an insincere attempt to stay in the spotlight due to Swift’s massive success and fanbase. One fan commented, “This is just attention-seeking behavior. He has no business using her name now.” Another voiced their frustration, saying, “This is nauseating. He’s still trying to use her name to stay relevant.” Fans generally agreed that Borchetta’s attempt to reminisce came off as hypocritical, especially considering their turbulent history.
Swift originally signed with Big Machine Records in 2005 at the age of 14, becoming Borchetta’s first signed artist. Their relationship soured in 2019 when Borchetta sold Big Machine to Scooter Braun, an acquisition that included Swift’s music catalog. This $300 million deal shocked Swift, who said she felt “betrayed and grossed out” that her music had changed hands without her consent. The deal prompted her to part ways with Big Machine and sign with Republic Records, where she would gain ownership of her future recordings.
To reclaim her music, Swift began re-recording her earlier albums, including ‘Fearless’, ‘Speak Now’, ‘Red’, and ‘1989’. She explained that re-recording gave her the chance to own her masters and control her legacy. Fans applauded her decision, and her re-recorded albums, branded as “Taylor’s Version,” have since topped charts and received widespread support. Swift still has plans to re-record her album ‘Reputation’ as part of this effort.
Borchetta’s recent tribute, despite his apparent intention to acknowledge Swift’s journey, did not sit well with her fans. They viewed his post as an attempt to profit from her continued popularity, further fueling the ongoing resentment stemming from his past decisions.
