Elizabeth Warren and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have spoken out in support of Taylor Swift amid the singer’s public feud with music executives Scott Borchetta and Scooter Braun.
The Democrat lawmakers weighed in on the controversy over the weekend after Swift accused Big Machine Label Group founder Borchetta and his partner Braun, who purchased recordings from her first six studio albums for $300million in July, of barring her from performing her music.
Swift alleged on Thursday that Borchetta and Braun had denied her permission to perform a planned medley of her greatest hits at the American Music Awards next Sunday where she is due to receive Artist of the Decade, and permission to use her old songs on a Netflix documentary two years in the making.
She also called out the Carlyle Group, the private equity firm which reportedly invested in Braun’s company, Ithaca Holdings, ‘who put up money for the sale of my music to these two men’.
![Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (pictured November 9) also defended Swift on Twitter](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/11/17/23/21133306-7695837-image-m-15_1574032107098.jpg)
Elizabeth Warren and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have spoken out in support of Taylor Swift amid the singer’s public feud with music executives Scott Borchetta and Scooter Braun
![Swift accused Big Machine Label Group founder Borchetta and his partner Braun, who purchased recordings from her first six studio albums for $300million in July, of barring her from performing her music in a scathing social media post on Thursday. The singer is pictured at the MTV Video Music Awards in August](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/11/17/23/21133322-7695837-image-a-4_1574031603052.jpg)
Swift accused Big Machine Label Group founder Borchetta and his partner Braun, who purchased recordings from her first six studio albums for $300million in July, of barring her from performing her music in a scathing social media post on Thursday. The singer is pictured at the MTV Video Music Awards in August
![Swift alleged on Thursday that Borchetta and Braun (above together in June) had denied her permission to perform a planned medley of her greatest hits at the American Music Awards next Sunday where she is due to receive Artist of the Decade, and permission to use her old songs on a Netflix documentary two years in the making](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/11/17/23/21032368-7695837-Scott_Borchetta_left_founded_Big_Machine_Records_Scooter_Braun_r-a-7_1574031654323.jpg)
Swift alleged on Thursday that Borchetta and Braun (above together in June) had denied her permission to perform a planned medley of her greatest hits at the American Music Awards next Sunday where she is due to receive Artist of the Decade, and permission to use her old songs on a Netflix documentary two years in the making
Both Ocasio-Cortez and Warren seized on the private equity firm aspect in responding to Swift’s claims.
‘Private equity groups’ predatory practices actively hurt millions of Americans. Their leveraged buyouts have destroyed the lives of retail workers across the country, scrapping 1+ million jobs. Now they’re holding @taylorswift13’s own music hostage. They need to be reigned in,’ freshman Rep Ocasio-Cortez tweeted Friday.
Warren joined the fray on Saturday, tweeting: ‘Unfortunately, @taylorswift13 is one of many whose work has been threatened by a private equity firm.
‘They’re gobbling up more and more of our economy, costing jobs and crushing entire industries.’
The Massachusetts senator tied the issue in with her presidential campaign by adding: ‘It’s time to rein in private equity firms—and I’ve got a plan for that.’
![Both Ocasio-Cortez and Warren seized on the private equity firm aspect in responding to Swift's claims. Ocasio-Cortez's Friday tweet is shown above](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/11/17/23/21133344-7695837-image-a-5_1574031627026.jpg)
Both Ocasio-Cortez and Warren seized on the private equity firm aspect in responding to Swift’s claims. Ocasio-Cortez’s Friday tweet is shown above
![Warren tied the Swift drama issue in with her presidential campaign by writing: 'It's time to rein in private equity firms—and I've got a plan for that'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/11/17/23/21133342-7695837-image-a-6_1574031629360.jpg)
Warren tied the Swift drama issue in with her presidential campaign by writing: ‘It’s time to rein in private equity firms—and I’ve got a plan for that’
Warren and Ocasio-Cortez are among the growing list of high-profile names who have spoken out in support of Swift after she made the latest allegations in her escalating feud with Borchetta and Braun.
The star made headlines over the summer after Borchetta – who owns Swift’s original label Big Machine Label Group – sold the rights to her previous material to Braun, the music business powerhouse who also manages Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber.
Swift pulled the feud back into the public spotlight with her post on Thursday, captioned: ‘Don’t know what else to do.’
In it, she wrote: ‘Guys – It’s been announced recently that the American Music Awards will be honoring me with the Artist of the Decade Award at this year’s ceremony.
‘I’ve been planning to perform a medley of my hits throughout the decade on the show. Scott Borchetta and Scooter Braun have now said that I’m not allowed to perform my old songs on television because they claim that would be re-recording my music before I’m allowed to next year.
‘Additionally – and this isn’t the way I had planned on telling you this news – Netflix has created a documentary about my life for the past few years. Scott and Scooter have declined the use of my older music or performance footage for this project, even though there is no mention of either of them or Big Machine Records anywhere in the film.’
Swift concluded by encouraging her fans to ‘let Scott Borchetta and Scooter Braun know how you feel about this’.
![Swift pulled her feud with Borchetta and Braun back into the public spotlight in a lengthy social media post on Thursday, captioned: 'Don't know what else to do'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/11/17/23/21031760-7695837-The_artist_said_re_recording_next_year_is_something_she_is_legal-a-8_1574031670646.jpg)
![She summarized the spat as them telling her: 'Basically, be a good little girl and shut up. Or you'll be punished'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/11/15/11/21031758-7688539-She_summarized_the_spat_as_them_telling_her_Basically_be_a_good_-a-29_1573818460365.jpg)
Swift pulled her feud with Borchetta and Braun back into the public spotlight in a lengthy social media post on Thursday, captioned: ‘Don’t know what else to do’
![Swift added: 'Right now my performance at the AMA's, the Netflix documentary and any other recorded events I am planning to play until November of 2020 are a question mark'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/11/15/00/21031762-7687841-Swift_added_Right_now_my_performance_at_the_AMA_s_the_Netflix_do-m-21_1573778200515.jpg)
Swift added: ‘Right now my performance at the AMA’s, the Netflix documentary and any other recorded events I am planning to play until November of 2020 are a question mark’
Several celebrities including Gigi Hadid, Selena Gomez, Camila Cabello, Halsey, and Lily Allen voiced their support as the hashtag #IStandWithTaylor went viral.
‘Scott and Scooter, you know what the right thing to do is,’ Hadid tweeted Thursday. ‘Taylor and her fans deserve to celebrate the music!!’
On her Instagram Stories page, Halsey wrote a detailed piece about why she disagreed with the business tactics Swift described.
‘Not only are we looking at an awful business move (because one would be incentivized to allow Taylor to perform her songs seeing as it would be direct to rediscovery of a catalog they currently profit off of???) but this is just mean.’ Halsey said. ‘This is punishment. This is helping to silence her from speaking about things by dangling this over her head.’
The Without Me singer, who also sang Taylor’s Mean on her Instagram story, pointed out the imbalance of power in the situation between the artist and executives.
‘These people are protected because they inspire complicity with fear,’ she said. ‘Banking on the illusion that people will not stand up for her. That the world will say she’s overreacting. You’re barking up the wrong tree.
‘It is her grace and patience in this moment make her the Artist of the Decade.’
Selena Gomez – who used to date Scooter’s client Justin – said, ‘My heart is so heavy right now.
‘It makes me sick and extremely angry. (I don’t mind if there may be retaliation) this is my opinion.’
She went on to say ‘this is greed, manipulation, power.’
Camila Cabello also shared a long note. She said that ‘I can’t wrap my head around how this could happen. A record label can’t be allowed to do this to an artist… whatever needs to happen to get this situation fixed, needs to happen.’
Tinashe, in response to Swift’s post, wrote, ‘F*** that. We’re with you,’ adding of the situation: It genuinely genuinely makes me sick to my stomach.’
![Model Gigi Hadid tweeted support for Swift on Thursday](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/11/15/06/21039288-7688539-image-a-22_1573799109218.jpg)
Model Gigi Hadid tweeted support for Swift on Thursday
![Singer Halsey also posted a lengthy message of support in the wake of Swifts' new allegations](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/11/15/06/21039302-7688539-image-a-40_1573801046184.jpg)
Singer Halsey also posted a lengthy message of support in the wake of Swifts’ new allegations
![Selena Gomez - who used to date Braun's client Justin Bieber - said, 'My heart is so heavy right now. 'It makes me sick and extremely angry. (I don't mind if there may be retaliation) this is my opinion'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/11/15/15/21058718-0-image-a-28_1573831956344.jpg)
Selena Gomez – who used to date Braun’s client Justin Bieber – said, ‘My heart is so heavy right now. ‘It makes me sick and extremely angry. (I don’t mind if there may be retaliation) this is my opinion’
![Camila Cabello also shared a long note. She said that 'I can't wrap my head around how this could happen. A record label can't be allowed to do this to an artist... whatever needs to happen to get this situation fixed, needs to happen'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/11/15/15/21058724-7688539-image-a-29_1573832020649.jpg)
Camila Cabello also shared a long note. She said that ‘I can’t wrap my head around how this could happen. A record label can’t be allowed to do this to an artist… whatever needs to happen to get this situation fixed, needs to happen’
Singer Lily Allen posted: ‘Solidarity with Taylor here, this sounds awful, and people wonder why music hasn’t had its #MeToo moment?’
Singer Jordan Pruitt also chimed in on the dispute, questioning the legality of the business tactics the men purportedly employed to hush the outspoken artist.
‘The things that @scottborchetta + Scooter Braun are continuing to do to @taylorswift13 are not only wrong, they should be illegal!’ she wrote. ‘You “men” should focus your sights on things other than bullying the Artist of this CENTURY. LEAVE TAYLOR ALONE. PERIODT.’
The Hills star Spencer Pratt seemingly referred to the lack of more artists decrying the purported actions of Braun and Borchetta: ‘Sorry I’m not a pop superstar @taylorswift13 cause i def wouldn’t be quiet like all these lames.’
The group Echosmith, actor Alan Cumming, actress Rachel Zegler and YouTuber Ricky Dillon were among those supporting the singer amid the professional battle.
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/11/15/06/21040878-7688539-image-a-33_1573800476352.jpg)
![Tinashe did not waste words pledging her support for Swift](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/11/15/06/21040874-7688539-image-a-34_1573800491118.jpg)
Tinashe did not waste words pledging her support for Swift
![Singer Lily Allen posted: 'Solidarity with Taylor here, this sounds awful, and people wonder why music hasn’t had its #MeToo moment?'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/11/15/05/21038708-7687841-Singer_Lily_Allen_posted_Solidarity_with_Taylor_here_this_sounds-m-26_1573794529307.jpg)
Singer Lily Allen posted: ‘Solidarity with Taylor here, this sounds awful, and people wonder why music hasn’t had its #MeToo moment?’
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/11/15/06/21039372-7688539-image-a-26_1573799220626.jpg)
![Singer Jordan Pruitt also chimed in on the dispute, questioning the legality of the business tactics the men purportedly employed to hush the outspoken artist](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/11/15/06/21039368-7688539-image-a-27_1573799229460.jpg)
Singer Jordan Pruitt also chimed in on the dispute, questioning the legality of the business tactics the men purportedly employed to hush the outspoken artist
![The Hills star Spencer Pratt seemingly referred to the lack of more artists decrying the purported actions of Braun and Borchetta](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/11/15/11/21040876-7688539-Politics_The_Hills_star_Spencer_Pratt_seemingly_referred_to_the_-a-28_1573818460358.jpg)
The Hills star Spencer Pratt seemingly referred to the lack of more artists decrying the purported actions of Braun and Borchetta
![Grammy-winning songwriter Joel Little went public with his support for Swift](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/11/17/23/21039366-7695837-Speaking_out_Grammy_winning_songwriter_Joel_Little_went_public_w-a-9_1574031798297.jpg)
Grammy-winning songwriter Joel Little went public with his support for Swift
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/11/15/06/21040870-7688539-image-a-39_1573800638241.jpg)
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/11/17/23/21040872-7695837-image-a-10_1574031803219.jpg)
Big Machine Label Group has said that Swift’s latest claims are based on ‘false information’.
The label was reportedly forced to shut down its Nashville headquarters early on Friday amid ‘direct and hostile death threats being made to employees of the company’.
TMZ reported Thursday that Big Machine sources said Scott and Scooter have ‘extended an olive branch to Taylor, asking her to sit down with them and try to bury the hatchet.’
The source claimed ‘she flatly refused, threatening if they didn’t give her exactly what she wanted she’d go public and tell people to attack Big Machine as well as Scott and Scooter’.
The insider added that Swift ‘has admitted she owes the label more than $7 million and hasn’t paid for more than a year’.
They also reportedly claimed she owes the label masters and video content.
DailyMail.com has reached out to reps for Braun and Borchetta but did not immediately get a response.