Taylor Swift recalled feeling used 'like a prized calf sold to the highest bidder' in emotional fallout with former label boss

Taylor Swift has always been an artist who wears her heart on her sleeve, but her fallout with former label boss Scott Borchetta took her vulnerability to a whole new level. In a 2019 interview with Rolling Stone, Swift pulled back the curtain on a relationship she once believed was built on mutual respect and personal connection—but later realized was anything but.

Taylor Swift launched her career under Big Machine Records, helmed by Scott Borchetta. For years, the partnership yielded chart-topping albums like Fearless and Red, and on the surface, it seemed like a successful and creative alliance. But behind the scenes, tension was mounting. Swift revealed that she once viewed Borchetta as a paternal figure in the industry. “I truly, legitimately thought he looked at me as the daughter he never had,” she said.
Despite their creative differences, Taylor Swift admitted she tried to focus on the positives. “I was going to hang my hat on the good stuff,” she said. But the illusion shattered when Borchetta sold the master rights to her first six albums to talent manager Scooter Braun—without her consent.


The deal marked a turning point, leaving Taylor Swift feeling used and dehumanized. Her words cut deep: “To go from feeling like you’re being looked at as a daughter to this grotesque feeling of ‘Oh, I was actually his prized calf that he was fattening up to sell to the slaughterhouse that would pay the most.’” It was more than just a business betrayal—it was a profound personal violation.
The situation worsened when both Borchetta and Braun allegedly spread misinformation about Swift withdrawing from the Manchester benefit concert and the Parkland march. “Everyone in my team knew if Scooter Braun brought us something, do not bring it to me,” she shared, highlighting how strained things had become behind the scenes.
Swift didn’t just speak out—she took action. Determined to reclaim her voice and ownership, she began re-recording her early albums. Her motivation was clear: “These are two very rich, very powerful men, using $300 million of other people’s money to purchase, like, the most feminine body of work,” she said, expressing her disgust.
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Through resilience and artistry, Taylor Swift continues to turn betrayal into empowerment, reclaiming not only her music but her narrative.