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Home / Entertainment

Taylor Swift was 'brutal', says Calvin Harris' bestie John Newman

news.com.au
26 Sep, 2016 04:40 AM3 mins to read

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Taylor Swift (L) and Calvin Harris attend the 2015 Billboard Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 17, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo / Getty

Taylor Swift (L) and Calvin Harris attend the 2015 Billboard Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 17, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo / Getty

Taylor Swift's treatment of ex Calvin Harris has been branded "brutal" - by his best pal, John Newman.

Love Me Again singer John was by the DJ's side throughout the messy split, which led to a war of words after it emerged Taylor had ghost written Calvin's hit This Is What You Came For.

Fans discovered her involvement after John innocently tweeted his congrats on the song's success to Calvin, vocalist Rihanna and Taylor - before deleting and reposting the message without mention of Tay.

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The revelation sparked a public spat between Calvin and Taylor over why she was uncredited.

The Sun caught up with John ahead of his Apple Music Festival gig at London's Roundhouse. Talking about the tweet incident for the first time, he admitted he is no longer in contact with his pal's ex.

He said: "From her side? Yeah, it did get brutal. I'm like Calvin, happy to take a back seat. I like my music to do the talking.

John Newman performs at the Apple Music Festival at The Roundhouse on September 23, 2016 in London, England. Photo / Getty
John Newman performs at the Apple Music Festival at The Roundhouse on September 23, 2016 in London, England. Photo / Getty

"When I tweeted that, there was a text almost immediately from Calvin. He was like, 'Down. Now'.

"And then it all came out anyway. No I'm not [friendly with Taylor any more], I don't agree with what's gone on ... but I shouldn't comment further. I wouldn't know her well enough, weirdly. She's in another world."

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John, one of the nicest guys in the industry, seemed unfazed when we asked him if Calvin was worried that queen of the revenge song Taylor might go into uncomfortable detail about the pair's relationship on her next album.

Laughing off our suggestion she'd name her next release The Calvin Chronicles, he said:

Calvin Harris performs at the Apple Music Festival at The Roundhouse on September 23, 2016 in London, England. Photo / Getty
Calvin Harris performs at the Apple Music Festival at The Roundhouse on September 23, 2016 in London, England. Photo / Getty

"Let's hope not. I really like her music so they'll be great songs either way. But I've had uncomplimentary things sung about me by exes. You get on with it."

John was on great form before his amazing performance as support act for headliner Calvin.

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But having been diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2012, which was removed by surgeons, the tumour has now returned - and he told us this would be his last gig before an upcoming operation.

Read more:
• Sam Neill joins Thor cast
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During his set he premiered Save The Last Dance, about his health woes, telling the crowd: "I've not been going through the best of times recently."

John told us he's determined to return better than ever next year.

He said: "As soon as my tumour came back I said, 'Right, I'm gonna blitz this out, get myself feeling incredible and get the strength of mind to deal with this'.

"If you go into an op like that feeling s*** because you're eating s*** food and you're fat and you're unhappy with your success and you're down about it, then it's gonna hit you like a ton of bricks.

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"Calvin is my main inspiration in all of this. The way he got so healthy and inspired and focused, his friendship has been everything to me.

"I'm changing my lifestyle for ever. I want to come back with the best album I've ever made."

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