NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Entertainment

Taylor Swift throws shade at Scooter Braun at American Music Awards

By Lexie Cartwright
news.com.au·
25 Nov, 2019 04:30 AM6 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Taylor Swift arrives at the American Music Awards. Photo / AP

Taylor Swift arrives at the American Music Awards. Photo / AP

Taylor Swift has given a powerful performance at the American Music Awards where she was honoured with Artist of the Decade, amid her messy feud with Scooter Braun.

The 29-year-old pop star opened her career-spanning medley pointedly, performing the chorus of new album track The Man, a song about her frustration with sexist double standards.

One Twitter user claimed she threw "ultimate shade" at Scooter Braun. Photo / AP
One Twitter user claimed she threw "ultimate shade" at Scooter Braun. Photo / AP

She was dressed in what looked almost like a straight-jacket, emblazoned with the titles of her previous albums she no longer owns, as she sang:

"I'm so sick of running as fast as I can / Wondering if I'd get there quicker if I was a man And I'm so sick of them coming at me again / 'Cause if I was a man then I'd be the man"

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

She also had her album names engraved into the piano she played at the end of the performance.

Twitter was thoroughly enjoying the spectacle, with one user claiming she threw "ultimate shade" at Braun.

It was an ideal platform to launch a punchy message, with Swift telling the audience all she wanted to do was "create something that will last".

"All artists want is to create something that will last, whatever it is in life," she said.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

The Man intro was EVERYTHING. Taylor was in a PRISONERS OUTFIT WITH ALL HER PAST ALBUMS ON IT FOR YOU TO SEE.

She wants what’s hers.
She deserves what’s hers.#AMAs pic.twitter.com/YCi2YB9Dz5

— Zac ~ (@alltoozac) November 25, 2019

Taylor starting the show with kids about her age when she signed with Big Machine to prove a point. And then wearing a robe with BM albums on it while singing the man I HAVE NO WORDS #TaylorOnAMAs @taylornation13 @taylorswift13 #AMAs

— Steph (@swiftiesteph) November 25, 2019

taylor opening with “the man” was the ultimate shade to scooter omg #amas

— . (@ghostinxbieber) November 25, 2019

"And the fact this is an award that celebrates a decade of hard work, art, fun and memories, is all that matters to me. The memories that I have had with you guys, the fans, over the years. "Thank you for being the reason why I am on this stage."

After also winning Artist of the Year, Swift delved a little deeper into one of the "hardest" years of her life.

"The last year of my life has had the most amazing times and the hardest things I've gone through in my life, and not a lot of them have not been public," she said.

"Your stock is either up or down, people either like you or don't, but the ones who've hung in there with you are the ones you never forget.

Discover more

Entertainment

Miranda Lambert puts upsets aside in a powerful new album

04 Nov 04:00 PM
Entertainment

Arts fest gig guide: Aldous Harding, Pat Metheny and more

05 Nov 08:14 PM
Entertainment

New blood rules 2020 Grammys with Lizzo on top

20 Nov 07:10 PM
Entertainment

James Blunt announces NZ tour for November 2020

21 Nov 07:00 PM

READ MORE:
• Label's brutal response to Taylor Swift's latest letter
• Why Taylor Swift is to blame for latest twist in music rights drama
• Taylor Swift details 'tyrannical control' she's facing behind the scenes
• 'A lot of misinformation' One Republic's Ryan Tedder weighs in on Taylor Swift's feud with ex-label

"This year has been a lot. it's been a lot of good, and a lot of really complicated. On behalf of my family and me, thank you so much for being there and caring."

Swift's medley, in full was Love Story, I Knew You Were Trouble, Blank Space, Shake It Off with Halsey and Camilla Cabello and Lover.

Swift was the toast of the evening, also breaking Michael Jackson's record for the most AMA wins ever, with 25 AMAs overall. Jackson had 24.

It comes after a drama-filled couple of weeks for Swift, who has been engaged in a brutal war of words with music mogul and manager to the stars, Braun.

The pair have been feuding since Braun's company bought Swift's former label Big Machine Label Group, and in turn the rights to much of her old music earlier this year.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Taylor swift acceptance speech after receiving artist of the decade at the #AMAs pic.twitter.com/bCuPylZZ3y

— The Swift Life (@Teaandfacts123) November 25, 2019

Swift kicked off the madness two weeks ago when she posted a statement on tumblr titled "Don't know what else to do".

Swift wrote to her fans: "Guys – It's been announced recently that the American Music Awards will be honouring 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.

"The message being sent to me is very clear. Basically, be a good little girl and shut up. Or you'll be punished. This is WRONG. Neither of these men had a hand in the writing of those songs. They did nothing to create the relationship I have with my fans. So this is where I'm asking for your help.

Swift, winner of the artist of the decade award, performs a medley at the American Music Awards. Photo / AP
Swift, winner of the artist of the decade award, performs a medley at the American Music Awards. Photo / AP

"Please let Scott Borchetta and Scooter Braun know how you feel about this."

Let them know they did, with Braun directly calling out Swift last week saying his family had received multiple death threats in the wake of the Lover singer's statement, with Big Machine also claiming she "created a narrative that doesn't exist".

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
View this post on Instagram

@taylorswift

A post shared by Scooter Braun (@scooterbraun) on Nov 22, 2019 at 12:09am PST

"Since your public statement last week there have been numerous death threats directed at my family," Braun began the lengthy letter.

"This morning I spoke out publicly for the first time saying I wouldn't participate in a social media war. However I came home tonight to find my wife had received a phone call threatening the safety of our children.

Swift performs onstage during the 2019 American Music Awards. Photo / Getty Images
Swift performs onstage during the 2019 American Music Awards. Photo / Getty Images

"It almost feels as if you have no interest in ever resolving the conflict. At this point with safety becoming a concern I have no choice other than to publicly ask us to come together and try to find a resolution."

Braun reaffirmed that Swift could perform whatever songs she wanted to and never needed his permission ahead of the AMAs.

Save

    Share this article

Latest from Entertainment

Entertainment

Coronation Street star living life to the fullest after beating cancer

02 Jul 09:23 PM
Entertainment

Sean 'Diddy' Combs acquitted of sex trafficking, convicted on lesser charge

02 Jul 06:07 PM
Sport|athletics

Arli Liberman: The art of scoring in sport

02 Jul 06:01 AM

Sponsored: Get your kids involved in your reno

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Entertainment

Coronation Street star living life to the fullest after beating cancer

Coronation Street star living life to the fullest after beating cancer

02 Jul 09:23 PM

In 2019, Sally raised £100,000 for Prevent Breast Cancer by trekking to Everest base camp.

Sean 'Diddy' Combs acquitted of sex trafficking, convicted on lesser charge

Sean 'Diddy' Combs acquitted of sex trafficking, convicted on lesser charge

02 Jul 06:07 PM
Arli Liberman: The art of scoring in sport

Arli Liberman: The art of scoring in sport

02 Jul 06:01 AM
The reason behind Hilary Barry's absence from Seven Sharp

The reason behind Hilary Barry's absence from Seven Sharp

02 Jul 04:35 AM
Sponsored: Why heat pumps make winter cheaper
sponsored

Sponsored: Why heat pumps make winter cheaper

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP