January 11, 2022 • 41 mins
Taylor Swift has a list of stalkers longer than her stadium tour setlists. One drove over 900 miles to hand-deliver his “love” letters to her then-record-label, Big Machine Records. Others have showed up to her homes bearing rope, lock picks, and tools to break her windows. The threats on her life have become so persistent that her security team once installed facial recognition software at the venues she performed in, specifically to distinguish her stalkers from her fans. While making some of the most recognizable pop songs in music history, Taylor Swift also became one of the most recognizable women in the celebrity sphere – a title that on many occasions has nearly cost her life.
This episode contains themes that may be disturbing to some listeners, including descriptions of stalking and sexual assault.
To see the full list of contributors, see the show notes at www.disgracelandpod.com.
This episode was originally published on January 11, 2022.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
All right, disc goes welcome in. We've got a great
rewind episode for you all this week. This was originally
released back on January eleventh, twenty twenty two. It's our
Taylor Swift episode, and it caused a bit of a stir.
The New York Post ended up writing about it, but
I think that had more to do with just how
insane this story actually is, rather than the way in
(00:22):
which we told it. It's a living true crime nightmare.
What Taylor Swift has had to endure in the face
of her stalkers. It's downright terrifying, and sure, yeah, I
get it. Some might say, well, that's the price one
has to pay for that sort of fame, but we're
all human and having to live with the constant threat
of your home being invaded, abduction, or worse, that is
(00:45):
not a fate that I would wish on anyone, not
even my own worst enemy, never mind a pop star. Anyway,
check out this classic rewind episode of Disgraceland on Taylor
Swift and let us know what you think. Six one
seven nine oh six six six' three eight to drop
us a voicemail or text leave a review for the
show On Apple podcasts or hit us up at disgracelamp
pod on the Socials ROCK A.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
Rolla this episode contains content that may be disturbing to some.
Listeners please check the show notes for more. Information disgraceland
is a production Of Double. Elvis the stories About Taylor
(01:32):
swift are. Insane she has a laundry list of stalkers
nearly as long as her list of hit. Singles one
stalker sent more than forty love letters and detailed death
threats to her record label on three separate. Occasions that
same stalker drove nine hundred miles to hand deliver. Them
(01:52):
another invaded Her New york, home used her shower it
was found waiting For taylor in her. Bed thereat on
her life have become so persistent that her security team
installed facial recognition software at the venue she performed in
specifically to distinguish her stalkers from her. Fans and while
(02:13):
all this deadly fanfare was in full, tilt she lost
the legal rights to the master recordings of her first six,
albums effectively stripping her of her life's work to that.
Point but despite all of, this or perhaps in spite
of all of, This Taylor swift made and continues to
make great. Music that MUSIC i played for you at
(02:36):
the top of the show that wasn't great. Music that
was a preset loop from my melotron Called Cheeky TIKI Mk.
ONE i played you that loop BECAUSE i can't afford
the rights To Old Town road By Little Naseex and
why WOULD i play you that specific slice Of wrangler
around My Booty? Cheese COULD i afford? It because that
(03:00):
was the number one song In america On june, thirty twenty,
Nineteen and that was the Day Taylor swift lost control
of her, music an action that inspired her to reclaim
control of not only her, career but of her life
like never. Before on this Episode Interstate, stalking Death, Threats Lost,
(03:23):
Songs Love Letters Gone, mad And Taylor, Swift I'm Jake brennan.
Speaker 3 (03:29):
And this Is. Disgraceland the letters In Eric swaberk's hands were.
(04:09):
Sweaty he fiddled with the, maps mindedly tracing the creases
in the worn paper from the driver's seat of his.
Sedan the car idled in the parking lot Of Big
Machine label grew exhaling a blue smog into the Human nashville.
Air eric's handwritten notes had grown wrinkled and weary from
repeatedly rereading. Them during his nine hundred mile trip From
(04:31):
austin To, nashville he obsessively reassessed the notes he'd written
nearly every chance he, got at every stop on his,
journey every gas, station every, diner every bathroom. Break if he,
stopped he dug out the, parcel opened it and reread the.
Notes he saw his words in a new light every.
Time he sounded devoted when he read it at a
(04:53):
run down rest area in Rural. Arkansas he sounded, firm
at some Hipster tacorea In. Memphis and right, now next
to the glistening metallic backdrop of Downtown, nashville he sounded.
Determined august twenty, Eighteen eric removed one letter from Its warren,
envelope addressed To Scott, PORCHETTOW ceo Of Big Machine. Records
(05:18):
he traced his final statement delicately with his pinky. FINGER
i will not hesitate to kill, Her. Scott and there's nothing,
you your, lawyers or the law will be about to
do about. It. Shit how would he missed that he
had written about? Twice remember WHO i? Am? Well who is?
That will get the point across to Both scott And.
(05:40):
Taylor despite the double use of the word About, Taylor
Taylor Swift taylor his, soulmate his Down south, sweetheart his
blonde haired, beauty His eric's love For Taylor swift started
blooming at age twenty, two that age between adolescence and true.
(06:02):
Adulthood but he was now twenty. Six he had watched
four years of quiet devotion pass, by felt the object
of his, Obsession Taylor, swift reach out to him in
more than four hundred. Dreams eric logged each vision in
one of his note, books every aching. Detail he etched
them into those. Pages he had waited long enough to claim.
(06:25):
Her But eric hadn't wanted to do it like, this
take time off from work from his job as a
school bus, driver criss cross state, lines and roll up
to the headquarters of his now sworn, Enemy, scopborchetta just
to PLoP a fat stack of letters on the right.
Desk he didn't want any of, that but he had
(06:46):
no other. Choice he had information to, deliver important information
that demanded the attention of big, machine information involving the
safety of their, Artist Taylor. Swift it could have all
been so very, easy but no one was letting him
do things the easy. Way his letters had been cordial at,
(07:07):
first led us To Big, machine addressed To Scott borchadow
specifically requesting a meeting With. Taylor he was, polite but
he was. FIRM a couple emails, too he was, respectful
and that didn't get him, anywhere though he didn't get an,
answer not even the dignity of a, response even if
it had been a, no such a slap in the.
Face didn't they know that all these, songs all the
(07:28):
billboard number ones raking in more money than A South
american drug cartel were about? Him maybe he hadn't explained
that clearly, enough so he took things a little further.
More handwritten letters piled up In Scott borchetto's mailbox That Big,
machine and those letters now demanded That eric be allowed
to Meet Taylor. Swift and how Did eric know That
(07:50):
Taylor swift was really his? Soulmate scott would probably want to, know,
Right eric explained it, Simply taylor And taylor alone was the,
person and he wanted to. Rape, yes you heard that.
Correctly that Was Eric swarbrook's entirely fucked up, logic that
he knew That Taylor swift was his soulmate because she
(08:12):
was the person he wanted to. Rape it made no,
sense and as, such the logic was greeted with Nothing,
buckus no response From taylor or her, hatchet And scott
broshetta absolute. Silence for all of his heartfelt, Effort eric
(08:36):
was rewarded with, ugly deafening. Silence it made the noise
in his head that much. Louder the sweet swells of
adoration he felt For taylor became a violent. Hitch this
was the Game scott wanted to. Play Paint taylor into
(08:56):
that hard to get. Corner how ABOUT i paint the
walls of your shitty little record office with your blood
WHEN i blow your fucking brains out of your, head
you snobby little. Fuck eric's threat mustn't have, landed Because
scott didn't answer that letter. Either, This eric concluded was
where the other men always messed, Up the psychostalkers with
(09:18):
no grasp on, reality tweeting sweet sentiments At taylor multiple
times a, day every, day likely from the comfort of
their mother's. Basement he read about one guy who did
that more than seven hundred. Times said he wanted To
buyer a purple dress and make her his wife over
and over. Again so, lame so. Delusional, No eric had
to reinvent his. Approach he couldn't stomach the thought of
(09:39):
flinging his heart at an unknown inbox. Again he wasn't
going to cower behind a computer screen any. Longer he
was going to deliver his messages in person like a.
Man going To taylor's home was simply out of the.
Question each of her, residents says he knew them all had,
security Like Ford, knox thanks to the many delusional suitors
(10:02):
who had come before, him the ones who claimed they
wanted career, advice the ones who held down her doorbell
for hours at a, time or threw stolen money over
the fence like confetti in an act of. Desperation going
To taylor directly it wasn't the right. Move, Instead eric
had access to the next best, thing access to the
man who had once seen the same potential in tailor
(10:24):
that eric'sa on her now so here he was pulled
over in the parking a lot Of Big Machine label
group ready to hand deliver his latest correspondence To Scott.
Borchettow today marked his third pilgrimage To big, Machine and
you know what they said about the third? Time third
time is the, term because you come packing death. Threats
(10:45):
he felt the blood vessels in his. Temples, well how
could they do? This how could they deny him for so,
long ignore him and lump me with their litany of spineless?
Stalkers how could they spurn him like he had some
sort of sick case of puppy love or a case
of puppy. Lofe make someone drive nine hundred miles to
meet their? Soulmate would they do? It three? Times eric
(11:06):
grit his teeth and resisted the urge to crumple the
letter in his. Hand the adoration he felt in his
chest pulsed, harder pounding like a battering ram on a locked.
Door his feelings were coming full. Circle his unbridled, Love
the aching blank space in his heart was bubbling over
hell's bells drowned. Out the sound of wedding bells in
(11:26):
his mind was becoming. Rage, hatred pure. Hatred it moved
him even more than the sweet and sappy feelings. Did
he lifted his eyes to the building in front of
him and recited his favorite line from a past letter
to no one in. Particular he had read it at
enough times that he hadn't memorized tattooed on his brain
like a promise to. HIMSELF i will continue writing you
(11:48):
Until i'm strong and independent enough to enter. Society and
Once i've entered it'll be too. Late taylor will. DIE
i will insure. It Taylor swift's mind reduced the backstage
(12:23):
buzz surrounding her at The Raymond James stadium to a low.
Hum she scratched at a piece of confetti tickling the
nape of her neck as she watched a horde of
assistance peel off her upteenth stage. Outfit she wasn't known
as a quick change queen for. Nothing tonight she had
filled a sixty five thousand person capacity stadium In, Tampa.
(12:44):
Florida that was the blessing of a big reputation like,
Hers for better or, worse it got asses and, seats
and in twenty, Eighteen Taylor swift's reputation couldn't be, contained
not by the men same pop of her new album
of the same, name nor by the grand display of
her reputation World, tour a feat so massive that it
(13:08):
had to be sliced into six. Acts act five of
the show was over time for the final, act the big,
Finale but tonight it was more of a big fuck.
You it Was august, fourteenth twenty, eighteen exactly one year
since a judge In, Denver, colorado slammed down a gavel
(13:30):
and ruled In taylor's favor for her sexual assault. Case
one year since a courtroom full of people decided to
believe that, yes a RADIO dj had groped her ass
at a meet and, greet even though it felt unbelievable
that there was ever any doubt about the. INCIDENT i,
mean there was literally a photo of it. Happening it
(13:50):
had since spread across the. INTERNET a moment of, humiliation
frozen in. Time one hand up her, skirt one hand
on his, hip one shit eating grin on his. Face
now heoded her one, dollar a symbolic, gesture Since taylor
was not wanting for. Money all she wanted was, respect
not just for, her but for women. Everywhere today was
(14:14):
an anniversary of a. Victory she would be, elated she
would feel. Triumphant but tonight all that was overshadowed by
something far more. Sinister taylor lifted her legs one at
a time to step out of one stage costume and into.
ANOTHER a hairstylist tugged at her golden, locks futzing with
hairspray and bobby. Pins she had learned to tune it all.
(14:37):
Out she tuned it out in the same way she
did with the drama on the, internet like comments that
said she resembled roadkill reanimated by a drunk tax at her,
mist like when the Hashtag Taylor swift is over party
was the number one trending topic On twitter. Worldwide switching
on her mental meat button was a much needed, skill
(14:57):
as she had acquired over the years as her fame
mush beyond her wildest. Dreams but no matter what she,
did she couldn't tune up the Things Eric swarburg vowed
to do to.
Speaker 2 (15:08):
Her.
Speaker 3 (15:09):
Eric she hated that she knew his, name hated that
she had dedicated anything more than half a brain cell
to his, existence but he kept barging his way into
her life over and over. Again she had no, choice
especially if she wanted to make it out of the
sick situation, unharmed if she wanted to make it out.
Alive all those letters about his desire to tear her
(15:32):
limb from limb to rape, her to kill, her to end.
Her she shimmered into a sequin purple dress as the
threats looped in her. Mind he didn't even make it
Into Big machine this. Time her security team a shired.
Her the guard spotted him the second he stepped out
of his. Car he left the property in handcuffs before
he could even try to break Into Big machine's. Headquarters,
(15:54):
easy well, handled but still. Terrifying another shimmy in the
snug suit as she felt an invisible hands that were.
Up she tried to be, patient tried evaluate it from a,
kinder more human. Perspective surely this man could not be.
Well but the letters kept stacking up, there and so
too did the. Threats dozens at this, point, signed, sealed, delivered.
(16:18):
Deranged it was so concerning that her team now used
facial recognition technology dyesh of her concerts cameras programs specifically
to single Out eric or any other notable, stalker And
taylor's see of. Superfans imagine that you're so famous and
so harassed by a small army of stalkers that facial
(16:40):
recognition technology is specifically programmed and installed to identify the
lunatics who want to kill you. Insane at the very,
least all this madness had been buffered By. Scott Scott
BORSHETTA A Big machine always Had taylor's best interests at.
Heart he had them at heart from the very, beginning
(17:01):
when he had no label to speak of and she
had no massive. Following but one day in two thousand and,
four sitting in the cozy ambiance of The Bluebird cafe In,
Nashville scott saw a future star on stage and made
her a, promise a promise to sign Her Taylor, swift
When Big, machine his record, label was actually in business
(17:22):
and no longer just an idea of floating around in his. Head,
Now Big machine did some of the best business in
the music industry thanks to six albums From taylor that
all could have belonged TO rca could, have But taylor
decided to opt out of that deal so she wouldn't
have to record other people's. SONGS rca called it a development,
(17:43):
deal a promise to dangle in front of a teenage
girl as the label observed her growth as an, artist her,
songwriting her. MUSICIANSHIP rca dangled it for twelve months Before
taylor got wise and got out in the record label's.
Eyes in rcia's, Eyes Taylor swift was just await and
see in the case that country music went more, mainstream
(18:03):
and thus she would have been more profitable for. Them
but APPARENTLY rca hadn't been watching closely. Enough they hadn't
learned yet That Taylor swift didn't sit, still and if
she was, still it was only because she had her
head down for the few moments it took to write
her own. Ticket Because Taylor swift didn't, dream she, planned
(18:26):
she DITCHED rca and began working as a songwriter For
SONY Atv. Publishing every day after, school she pulled up
a chair with writers twice her, age took out her
pen and put her fourteen year old heartaches on, paper
knocked every breakup banger out of the. PARK rca could
develop that after doing that on her own terms for another.
(18:47):
Decade it Was Scott, borchetta NOT, rca who was running
out of space on his walls For Platinum. Records suffice to, say,
Now scott really had her best interests at, heart even
though their contract had come to a. Close upon the
release of her snarling new Album, Reputation taylor started to
warm up as an assistant reapplied her. Lipstick, no she
(19:07):
wouldn't entertain this pity, party not on her, day on
the anniversary of her big win In. Colorado she wasn't
going to ever Give Eric swabrick the satisfaction of free.
Rent in her, mind never, ever, ever she muttered to. Herself,
showtime a, crowbar an aluminum baseball bat lock, picks a
(19:33):
few pairs of rubber. Gloves taylor stopped. Reading she couldn't
bring herself to review the full. List police had caught
another one In Rhode, island this time outside her mansion
In Westerly Holiday, house as the original owner had called
it decades, ago and a man Named David little had
traveled all the way From Des, Moines iowa to see
(19:54):
it see. Her he packed no suitcase for his interstate,
journey just to backpack brimming with more than thirty different
tools commonly used when invading someone's. Home he told the
cops he was there for a, visit swore up and
down that he was friends With taylor and she had
agreed to share some music industry, tips which definitely explained
(20:14):
the tool in his bag made specifically for breaking. Windows,
Right taylor sighed from the safety of another of her,
homes this one In Los. Angeles im poured another round
of treats on the dining room table for her, Cat Olivia.
Benson the Fluffy scottish fold was a Cat taylor had
named after one of her favorite on screen meeting. Ladies
(20:35):
olivia named as a tribute to the Empathetic law And
Order Special Victims unit detective lunched away at her second. Dinner,
Dubiously taylor sighed from the cozy safety of her dining
room while she Scratched olivia behind the. Ears she wished
home always felt as, secure but it was hard to
truly unwind when the police reports stacked up as fast
(20:57):
as fan. Mail there had been one man who came
here to this very house In Los angeles From colorado
was little more than a knife and some rope in his.
Car then there was the prick who had climbed onto
a roof In New york who wasn't even deem mentally
fit to stand. Trial and now Mister little had camped
out In Rhode island for, her eagerly awaiting that quote
(21:19):
unquote career. Advice with a lock pick in one hand
and a crowbar in the. Other the threats, changed the weapons,
changed but at the end of the, day every one
of these men was the same sick bastard deep down.
Inside they all professed love for a woman they never
spent a second, with never even held eye contact, with
so they could claim they shared a smoldering glance from
(21:41):
across the. Room they were in love with A google,
search nothing, more and she very much wanted to be
excluded from their made up. Narratives the. Gloves her mind
kept going back to the. Gloves what did he need
the gloves? FOR a lump slid down her throat in
a familiar, spot the same uncomfortable place is when she
(22:04):
received a different piece of alarming news just a few weeks.
Prior as it turns, Out Scott borschetta did not Have
taylor's best interest at. Heart even, worse he didn't have her.
Masters masters are an artist's official original recording of a
song or. Album if an artist owns their, masters they
(22:27):
can license their music to any artist or third party they,
want and they can rake in royalties in the. Process
if they don't have. Ownership if they don't have their,
masters their intellectual property can create quite the profit for someone.
Else in, short if an artist owns his or her,
masters they could do whatever the hell they want with their.
Music but the opposite applies as. Well if someone else
(22:49):
owns an artist's master, recordings then they can do whatever
the hell they want with the artist's. Music taylor found
out that her masters were gone in the most impersonal
way possible on the, news just like the public. Did
scott had Sold Big machine label group in her life's.
Work along with. It through the sale of the record,
(23:10):
label ownership of her six albums had been transferred To Scooter,
braun the music industry mastermind behind artists Like Ariana grande
And Justin bieber aka the other biggest pop stars in the,
world the other people vying for the number one spots
On spotify playlists In billboard. Charts for, Years braun had
(23:31):
been trying to Topple taylor from the top of the
pop game so his own artists could come and dear
the number one. Position now he'd profit from the very
same songs and albums he had been so eager to
snub taylor. Songs bron also just so happened to be
the former manager Of Kanye, west who not only famously
Interrupted taylor's two thousand and NINE vma acceptance, speech but
(23:55):
later broke out THE b word to refer to her
in his Song famous and for what the sake of
a clever bar a few cruel laughs amongst his guy,
friends and maybe he thought it was dark humor when
he placed a lifelike replica Of taylor's naked body in
a bed with mannequins Resembling Donald trump And Chris brown
for the famous music video. Too if that was the,
(24:17):
Case taylor didn't see the. Humor she only saw The
internet staring at her likeness in the new without her. Consent.
Gross no matter how you looked at, it the man
who represented her direct competition now owned her hard earned original,
Music cue The Bad. Blood it was a nightmare that
was perfectly. Legal in overnight Vanishing, act a lifetime Of taylor's,
(24:41):
work ages fifteen to twenty nine was. Gone Scott borchetta
saw three hundred million dollars from his sale Of Big.
Machine taylor saw, nothing not that she needed the, money
although that's what The internet always made it out to look. Like,
no it was about the, principle the fact that a
man and promised through the world and then sold it
(25:02):
after a decade long. Relationship she had requested to Purchase
The masters on multiple, occasions and the label resisted every,
time not unless she signed another, contract they. Said not
only was that too tit for tat For taylor's, style
it was the exact opposite.
Speaker 2 (25:17):
Of what she.
Speaker 3 (25:18):
Wanted she longed and move forward with a, career but
in a way that she could take her hard earned
musical growth with her Fearless Speak now read nineteen eighty nine,
reputation her self titled. Debut those six albums told the
story of her life to. Date it felt like such
a simple. Request she just wanted full ownership of her. Life,
(25:40):
Overnight Scott borschettow wordlessly told her that she couldn't have.
It no one would let her have. It Not, scott Not,
eric Not. David the men in her, life both welcome and,
unwelcome were making sure of. It we'll be right back
were were. Were the rain wrapping on her window was
(26:11):
so loud that night that she almost didn't hear the
person stirring in her master. Bathroom the pitter patter of
the water streaming from the showerhead blended in with the rain,
drop slulling her to SLEEP a sliver of light slipped
under the bottom of the bathroom door like a gentle.
Warning as she dozed peacefully in Her tribeca, apartment there
(26:33):
was a scraping noise metal shower curtain rings on a
metal curtain, rod then the click of a door. Lock
she shifted in, bed drifting between dreams about world tours
and white. Felines she called out to her, boyfriend who
may or may not have come in late that. Night
she was trapped in the drowsy step between blissful sleep
(26:56):
and lethargic. Consciousness the sliver of light was extinguished and
the room went, dark silence except for the tender taps
on her. Window in her mental, fog she. Paused she,
listened tried to detect the slightest disturbance with ears that
(27:17):
had fine tuned so many hit. Singles. Nothing she rolled,
over pulling the sheets up around her neck like a startled.
Toddler but the sheets wouldn't. Budge something was weighing them.
Down she bolted upright in bed and. BLINKED a black
mass loomed on the edge of her, bed inches from.
(27:37):
Her she prayed it was her, boyfriend prayed it was
anyone she knew as long as it was a familiar.
Face she didn't even get the chance to see you.
Clearly the shadow moved suddenly and, swiftly a hand on her.
Neck pinned to the, bed she felt her throat crumple
under the pressure of his. Grip no, oxygen no cell phone,
nearby no neighbors to cry out to more press fingers
(28:01):
digging into her skin hard enough to leave a, bruise
but she wasn't worried about bruises right. Now the shadow
leaned in, closer so close she could start to discern the.
Details brown, eyes a, beard she had seen it. Before
his hot breath brushed against her. Cheeks her eyes watered
as she felt the last bit of oxygen leave her.
(28:22):
Lungs it escaped her chest as a muddled. Scream she
shot up in, bed gasping for. Air her hands went
right to her. Throat she had been choking on. Nothing
an icy sweat clung to her. Pajamas it was just another.
Nightmare thank. God these are the kinds of chilling nightmares
(28:44):
we can only imagine, torment the dreams of women who
feel the very, real very dangerous grip of stalkers and,
abusers the weight of worries sometimes sneaks its way into the,
subconscious a burdensome weight That Taylor swift is surely well acquainted.
With on this particular, Night taylor was in bed, alone
(29:07):
but in Her Beverly hills home on the opposite side
of the country From New, york thousands of miles From,
tribeca and more, importantly thousands of miles away From Roger.
Alvarado but why did the media always make lists of
her ex? Boyfriends her lists of unwanted suitors Like Roger
alvarado would be so much more. Impressive unwanted suitors fucked
(29:29):
that called them what they, were, stalkers, malicious, illegal invasive,
stalkers And Roger alvarado was among the. Worst the first
time had been upsetting. Enough last year the police found
him napping in the bed of Her New york. Apartment
he had just showered in her private, bathroom fresh as
a demented little. Daisy had he been in bed waiting for?
(29:50):
Her or was burglary really just that? Exhausting it didn't.
Matter what did matter is that he went to, jail
and when his time behind bars was, up he did
it again six months in the clink of attempted burbery
At taylor's home had seemingly taught him. Nothing after his
brief prison, sentence his first priority was shrinking the distance
(30:11):
between himself And taylor. Swift immediately he sprang from his
jail cell and onto the First jetty could find out Of,
florida landed In New, york hailed a cap and took
his first steps of true freedom outside Of Taylor's tribeca.
Home but that wasn't good, Enough because that wasn't close.
Enough he swiped the ladder from a nearby construction, site
(30:31):
poisted himself onto a, patio and smashed her glass door
with a concrete. Paver his unwelcome ntrance cost four thousand
dollars in. Damages the police arrived Before alvarado could get
squeaky clean in her shower this. TIME a reporter later
asked him if he'd do it, again, probably he, said
with more, violence but not towards. HER. O, great that's
(30:54):
cool of. Him taylor swung her legs over the edge
of her, bed and there was no use trying to.
Sleep Now, Island New, York Beverly, hills nowhere was. Saved
the media eagerly shared her home addresses with anyone who
cared to look them, up, which of course was apparently
every whack job on the. Planet Ta swift was already
well beyond the point of sacrificing some sense of normalcy
(31:15):
in her. Life she had handed that over ages ago
when she hired a twenty four to seven security, Team
but somehow she was still knee deep in breaking. Bullshit
how long it had been since she had driven by
herself the calm six years, Eight the question depressed her
years ago tend to be. Exact she had said during
(31:36):
an interview that if she had to choose between walking
down the street, alone unnoticed and playing for thousands of screaming,
fans she'd picked the sold out stadiums without. Hesitation that
nobody had warned her about what happens when the fame
follows you home at night with love letters and a lock.
Pick all she had ever wanted to do was to
(31:57):
connect with, people to be that voice whispering through someone's
headphones in the middle of the night when they had
no one else to turn. To some good that had done.
Her now men were in her, bedrooms ready to return the,
favor except they weren't whispering when she was a teenager
sitting at the table with the other songwriters At. Sony
she wrote what she. Knew she wrote what people her
(32:19):
age could connect. With the adults churned out songs about settling,
down about, complacency. Contentment taylor was fourteen years old at the.
Time she didn't have time for any of, that but
she had was a mix of teenage metal and blushing.
Vulnerability she wrote through the eyes of a frizzy haired
girl From pennsylvania who grew up on A christmas tree.
(32:40):
Firm how about the girl WEARING t shirts and seekers
who begrudgingly watched girls in high heels and cheerleading uniforms
scoop up any boy they. Wanted misfit was a strong.
Word she hadn't been a, misfit but she hadn't quite
fit in as a teenager. Either and then fame spun her,
around slaps. Sparkly how girl boots on her feet and
(33:01):
pushed a million microphones in her, face plastered her face
on every available, billboard and cleared off old billboard specifically
to make room for. Her she was suddenly a sixteen
year old. Superstar and then she really didn't fit. In
she left high school after her sophomore year in favor of.
Homeschooling but even though she no longer had to navigate
(33:22):
the hormone adult halls of her old, school she never
stopped writing music for the people who felt like they
had no safe place to turn to comfort. Music but
at this, Point Taylor swift was the one who could
use some. Comfort she traced her steps back and forth
across the modern and moonlight pooling on her bedroom. Floor
(33:44):
had she opened up too, much given away too much of.
Herself her newest, Album lover seemed to tow that line.
Perfectly she countered her first dance ballads with cheeky bursts
of colorful, pop seemingly taken right from the pages of
giddy teenage diary. Entries the title track could make you,
weepy but a song LIKE I forgot That You existed
(34:07):
snapped you right back down to, earth serious to sassy
and a. Heartbeat lover was more playful than, usual And
taylor could. Play all she wanted was her album after.
All twenty nineteen marked a rare first For Taylor. Swift
she released the first album she had ever. Owned the
(34:27):
freedom of it all made her heart, flutter and maybe
that's what she, needed more fluttering and a lot less anxious.
Pounding On april, ninth twenty twenty, One Taylor swift was
(35:05):
in the ears of super fans and super stalkers alike
as the sounds of her new, Album, Fearless Taylor's version
leapt from stereos around the. World, fearless the two thousand
and eight, album was not something she had any rights.
To she lost those rights when her masters were stripped
from her. Ownership no matter how wrong that, Scene taylor
(35:27):
went back to the beginning so that she could do
things her own. Way she was the new, boss the,
owner THE. Ceo she re recorded all nineteen songs Of
fearless for the deluxe edition of the, album alongside guests
of her choice and in the order she, wanted and once,
Again Taylor swift was, everywhere especially on the. Charts the
(35:52):
New Fearless Taylor's version debuted at number one on The
billboard two hundred old hat For Taylor swift at this,
point as it was her ninth album to do, so
but the release marked the first time any re recorded
album had ever topped on the. Chart the feat was
spurned on by fifty million global streams on its, Release
dad itself a record for the biggest opening day of
(36:15):
any album On spotify that. Year that record would hold
up for seven whole months until she broke it with
her next re, Release Red And there was Another. Thing.
Fearless taylor's version boasted the biggest first week's sales of
any country album in six. Years the records were, nice
but all that ultimately didn't matter To. Taylor what mattered
(36:37):
was that the album came together at, all that she
had found a way to take her creative past with
her and simultaneously leave all the baggage at someone else's front.
Steps the New fearless represented more than just a necessary.
Redo it was a, reassessment a chance to peer inside
herself and examine what she wanted to put into the,
world what pieces of her heart she wanted to offer,
(37:00):
up in which pieces were better to keep. Private she
reached so far into herself that she found old songs
that didn't make the cut the first time. Around now
more than ten years, old Teenage taylor had written. Them
Adult taylor breathed new life into. Them they were in
better hands, now between the previously unheard material and the re.
(37:21):
Recordings the New fearless was a twenty six Song. Beheamoth
it took up space and stood its, ground and the
Vault Taylor swift's catalog had been cracked wide, open and
finally it Was taylor who held the. Key in the
hush of twenty, twenty she could hear. Clearly she heard
(37:42):
exactly how she Wanted fearless to sound the second time.
Around for once there was nothing to tune. Out the
world had slowed to a quiet, crawl and so had
the danger and. Drama her deadliest followers could do little
more than peer at or social media accounts from behind,
bars and the other would be suitors remained in the
(38:02):
prison of their own. Homes paralyzed by THE covid nineteen,
Pandemic taylor's mental mute button grew, cobwebs And Taylor, swift
the Real Taylor, swift basted in the glove at all
in The Beverly hill's. Home it was crazy to think
how many houses she was in right, now how many
dance parties were going on amongst teenage, girls how many
(38:24):
first kisses were, happening and likely a few backseat breakups as.
Well but they had all welcomed her into their. Homes in,
return she gave them a very carefully curated version of
herself back not too, little not too, much miss perfectly.
Fine the new album had soothed so many, stings the
(38:45):
sting of losing her music in the first, place the original,
masters the sting of the recent resale of her masters
to a private equity, firm the sting of the people
who entered her life with a peace sign and left
giving her the. Finger this was her comfort. Music her phone,
Chirped she checked the CALLER id her security. Team. Shit taylor,
(39:07):
answered but didn't say. Hello cops had peeled another one
away from the doors of Her tribec. Apartment he, says
he knows. You the voice on the other in the
line told her none of them know. Me taylor, said
they don't know me at. All this one was older than,
usual fifty. Two an onlooker had spotted him and called
(39:29):
nine one. One today marked his fifth try at least
to Catch taylor's whear's attention outside Her New york homb
and this time the stalker left in. Handcuffs and you
could say that he was, dedicated but it's more accurate
to say that he was A. Disgrace I'm Jake brennan
(39:50):
in This This DISGRACE i have to.
Speaker 2 (39:52):
Do the.
Speaker 3 (40:04):
Disgracelam is created By Yours truly and is produced in
partnership With Double, Elvis The Exactly Right, network And iHeart.
Podcasts credits for this episode can be found on the
show notes page at disgracelampod dot. Com if you're listening
as A Disgraceland All access, member thank you for supporting the.
Show we really appreciate, it and if, not you can
(40:24):
become a member right now by going to disgracelampod dot
com Slash membership members can listen to every episode Of
disgraceland ad, free rate and review the, show and follow
us On, instagram, TikTok, twitter And facebook at disgracelampod and
on YouTube at YouTube dot com slash at disgracelampod Rock.
Arolla all, right, guys thanks for checking out this classic
(40:53):
rewind episode Of. Disgraceland what do you think would you
give up your privacy even if it meant living under
the car constant threat of? Harm Like Taylor swift six
one seven nine oh six sixty six three eight to
let us know via voicemail and text At. Disgrace lampod
on the, socials rock a rolla
All right, disc goes welcome in. We've got a great
rewind episode for you all this week. This was originally
released back on January eleventh, twenty twenty two. It's our
Taylor Swift episode, and it caused a bit of a stir.
The New York Post ended up writing about it, but
I think that had more to do with just how
insane this story actually is, rather than the way in
(00:22):
which we told it. It's a living true crime nightmare.
What Taylor Swift has had to endure in the face
of her stalkers. It's downright terrifying, and sure, yeah, I
get it. Some might say, well, that's the price one
has to pay for that sort of fame, but we're
all human and having to live with the constant threat
of your home being invaded, abduction, or worse, that is
(00:45):
not a fate that I would wish on anyone, not
even my own worst enemy, never mind a pop star. Anyway,
check out this classic rewind episode of Disgraceland on Taylor
Swift and let us know what you think. Six one
seven nine oh six six six' three eight to drop
us a voicemail or text leave a review for the
show On Apple podcasts or hit us up at disgracelamp
pod on the Socials ROCK A.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
Rolla this episode contains content that may be disturbing to some.
Listeners please check the show notes for more. Information disgraceland
is a production Of Double. Elvis the stories About Taylor
(01:32):
swift are. Insane she has a laundry list of stalkers
nearly as long as her list of hit. Singles one
stalker sent more than forty love letters and detailed death
threats to her record label on three separate. Occasions that
same stalker drove nine hundred miles to hand deliver. Them
(01:52):
another invaded Her New york, home used her shower it
was found waiting For taylor in her. Bed thereat on
her life have become so persistent that her security team
installed facial recognition software at the venue she performed in
specifically to distinguish her stalkers from her. Fans and while
(02:13):
all this deadly fanfare was in full, tilt she lost
the legal rights to the master recordings of her first six,
albums effectively stripping her of her life's work to that.
Point but despite all of, this or perhaps in spite
of all of, This Taylor swift made and continues to
make great. Music that MUSIC i played for you at
(02:36):
the top of the show that wasn't great. Music that
was a preset loop from my melotron Called Cheeky TIKI Mk.
ONE i played you that loop BECAUSE i can't afford
the rights To Old Town road By Little Naseex and
why WOULD i play you that specific slice Of wrangler
around My Booty? Cheese COULD i afford? It because that
(03:00):
was the number one song In america On june, thirty twenty,
Nineteen and that was the Day Taylor swift lost control
of her, music an action that inspired her to reclaim
control of not only her, career but of her life
like never. Before on this Episode Interstate, stalking Death, Threats Lost,
(03:23):
Songs Love Letters Gone, mad And Taylor, Swift I'm Jake brennan.
Speaker 3 (03:29):
And this Is. Disgraceland the letters In Eric swaberk's hands were.
(04:09):
Sweaty he fiddled with the, maps mindedly tracing the creases
in the worn paper from the driver's seat of his.
Sedan the car idled in the parking lot Of Big
Machine label grew exhaling a blue smog into the Human nashville.
Air eric's handwritten notes had grown wrinkled and weary from
repeatedly rereading. Them during his nine hundred mile trip From
(04:31):
austin To, nashville he obsessively reassessed the notes he'd written
nearly every chance he, got at every stop on his,
journey every gas, station every, diner every bathroom. Break if he,
stopped he dug out the, parcel opened it and reread the.
Notes he saw his words in a new light every.
Time he sounded devoted when he read it at a
(04:53):
run down rest area in Rural. Arkansas he sounded, firm
at some Hipster tacorea In. Memphis and right, now next
to the glistening metallic backdrop of Downtown, nashville he sounded.
Determined august twenty, Eighteen eric removed one letter from Its warren,
envelope addressed To Scott, PORCHETTOW ceo Of Big Machine. Records
(05:18):
he traced his final statement delicately with his pinky. FINGER
i will not hesitate to kill, Her. Scott and there's nothing,
you your, lawyers or the law will be about to
do about. It. Shit how would he missed that he
had written about? Twice remember WHO i? Am? Well who is?
That will get the point across to Both scott And.
(05:40):
Taylor despite the double use of the word About, Taylor
Taylor Swift taylor his, soulmate his Down south, sweetheart his
blonde haired, beauty His eric's love For Taylor swift started
blooming at age twenty, two that age between adolescence and true.
(06:02):
Adulthood but he was now twenty. Six he had watched
four years of quiet devotion pass, by felt the object
of his, Obsession Taylor, swift reach out to him in
more than four hundred. Dreams eric logged each vision in
one of his note, books every aching. Detail he etched
them into those. Pages he had waited long enough to claim.
(06:25):
Her But eric hadn't wanted to do it like, this
take time off from work from his job as a
school bus, driver criss cross state, lines and roll up
to the headquarters of his now sworn, Enemy, scopborchetta just
to PLoP a fat stack of letters on the right.
Desk he didn't want any of, that but he had
(06:46):
no other. Choice he had information to, deliver important information
that demanded the attention of big, machine information involving the
safety of their, Artist Taylor. Swift it could have all
been so very, easy but no one was letting him
do things the easy. Way his letters had been cordial at,
(07:07):
first led us To Big, machine addressed To Scott borchadow
specifically requesting a meeting With. Taylor he was, polite but
he was. FIRM a couple emails, too he was, respectful
and that didn't get him, anywhere though he didn't get an,
answer not even the dignity of a, response even if
it had been a, no such a slap in the.
Face didn't they know that all these, songs all the
(07:28):
billboard number ones raking in more money than A South
american drug cartel were about? Him maybe he hadn't explained
that clearly, enough so he took things a little further.
More handwritten letters piled up In Scott borchetto's mailbox That Big,
machine and those letters now demanded That eric be allowed
to Meet Taylor. Swift and how Did eric know That
(07:50):
Taylor swift was really his? Soulmate scott would probably want to, know,
Right eric explained it, Simply taylor And taylor alone was the,
person and he wanted to. Rape, yes you heard that.
Correctly that Was Eric swarbrook's entirely fucked up, logic that
he knew That Taylor swift was his soulmate because she
(08:12):
was the person he wanted to. Rape it made no,
sense and as, such the logic was greeted with Nothing,
buckus no response From taylor or her, hatchet And scott
broshetta absolute. Silence for all of his heartfelt, Effort eric
(08:36):
was rewarded with, ugly deafening. Silence it made the noise
in his head that much. Louder the sweet swells of
adoration he felt For taylor became a violent. Hitch this
was the Game scott wanted to. Play Paint taylor into
(08:56):
that hard to get. Corner how ABOUT i paint the
walls of your shitty little record office with your blood
WHEN i blow your fucking brains out of your, head
you snobby little. Fuck eric's threat mustn't have, landed Because
scott didn't answer that letter. Either, This eric concluded was
where the other men always messed, Up the psychostalkers with
(09:18):
no grasp on, reality tweeting sweet sentiments At taylor multiple
times a, day every, day likely from the comfort of
their mother's. Basement he read about one guy who did
that more than seven hundred. Times said he wanted To
buyer a purple dress and make her his wife over
and over. Again so, lame so. Delusional, No eric had
to reinvent his. Approach he couldn't stomach the thought of
(09:39):
flinging his heart at an unknown inbox. Again he wasn't
going to cower behind a computer screen any. Longer he
was going to deliver his messages in person like a.
Man going To taylor's home was simply out of the.
Question each of her, residents says he knew them all had,
security Like Ford, knox thanks to the many delusional suitors
(10:02):
who had come before, him the ones who claimed they
wanted career, advice the ones who held down her doorbell
for hours at a, time or threw stolen money over
the fence like confetti in an act of. Desperation going
To taylor directly it wasn't the right. Move, Instead eric
had access to the next best, thing access to the
man who had once seen the same potential in tailor
(10:24):
that eric'sa on her now so here he was pulled
over in the parking a lot Of Big Machine label
group ready to hand deliver his latest correspondence To Scott.
Borchettow today marked his third pilgrimage To big, Machine and
you know what they said about the third? Time third
time is the, term because you come packing death. Threats
(10:45):
he felt the blood vessels in his. Temples, well how
could they do? This how could they deny him for so,
long ignore him and lump me with their litany of spineless?
Stalkers how could they spurn him like he had some
sort of sick case of puppy love or a case
of puppy. Lofe make someone drive nine hundred miles to
meet their? Soulmate would they do? It three? Times eric
(11:06):
grit his teeth and resisted the urge to crumple the
letter in his. Hand the adoration he felt in his
chest pulsed, harder pounding like a battering ram on a locked.
Door his feelings were coming full. Circle his unbridled, Love
the aching blank space in his heart was bubbling over
hell's bells drowned. Out the sound of wedding bells in
(11:26):
his mind was becoming. Rage, hatred pure. Hatred it moved
him even more than the sweet and sappy feelings. Did
he lifted his eyes to the building in front of
him and recited his favorite line from a past letter
to no one in. Particular he had read it at
enough times that he hadn't memorized tattooed on his brain
like a promise to. HIMSELF i will continue writing you
(11:48):
Until i'm strong and independent enough to enter. Society and
Once i've entered it'll be too. Late taylor will. DIE
i will insure. It Taylor swift's mind reduced the backstage
(12:23):
buzz surrounding her at The Raymond James stadium to a low.
Hum she scratched at a piece of confetti tickling the
nape of her neck as she watched a horde of
assistance peel off her upteenth stage. Outfit she wasn't known
as a quick change queen for. Nothing tonight she had
filled a sixty five thousand person capacity stadium In, Tampa.
(12:44):
Florida that was the blessing of a big reputation like,
Hers for better or, worse it got asses and, seats
and in twenty, Eighteen Taylor swift's reputation couldn't be, contained
not by the men same pop of her new album
of the same, name nor by the grand display of
her reputation World, tour a feat so massive that it
(13:08):
had to be sliced into six. Acts act five of
the show was over time for the final, act the big,
Finale but tonight it was more of a big fuck.
You it Was august, fourteenth twenty, eighteen exactly one year
since a judge In, Denver, colorado slammed down a gavel
(13:30):
and ruled In taylor's favor for her sexual assault. Case
one year since a courtroom full of people decided to
believe that, yes a RADIO dj had groped her ass
at a meet and, greet even though it felt unbelievable
that there was ever any doubt about the. INCIDENT i,
mean there was literally a photo of it. Happening it
(13:50):
had since spread across the. INTERNET a moment of, humiliation
frozen in. Time one hand up her, skirt one hand
on his, hip one shit eating grin on his. Face
now heoded her one, dollar a symbolic, gesture Since taylor
was not wanting for. Money all she wanted was, respect
not just for, her but for women. Everywhere today was
(14:14):
an anniversary of a. Victory she would be, elated she
would feel. Triumphant but tonight all that was overshadowed by
something far more. Sinister taylor lifted her legs one at
a time to step out of one stage costume and into.
ANOTHER a hairstylist tugged at her golden, locks futzing with
hairspray and bobby. Pins she had learned to tune it all.
(14:37):
Out she tuned it out in the same way she
did with the drama on the, internet like comments that
said she resembled roadkill reanimated by a drunk tax at her,
mist like when the Hashtag Taylor swift is over party
was the number one trending topic On twitter. Worldwide switching
on her mental meat button was a much needed, skill
(14:57):
as she had acquired over the years as her fame
mush beyond her wildest. Dreams but no matter what she,
did she couldn't tune up the Things Eric swarburg vowed
to do to.
Speaker 2 (15:08):
Her.
Speaker 3 (15:09):
Eric she hated that she knew his, name hated that
she had dedicated anything more than half a brain cell
to his, existence but he kept barging his way into
her life over and over. Again she had no, choice
especially if she wanted to make it out of the
sick situation, unharmed if she wanted to make it out.
Alive all those letters about his desire to tear her
(15:32):
limb from limb to rape, her to kill, her to end.
Her she shimmered into a sequin purple dress as the
threats looped in her. Mind he didn't even make it
Into Big machine this. Time her security team a shired.
Her the guard spotted him the second he stepped out
of his. Car he left the property in handcuffs before
he could even try to break Into Big machine's. Headquarters,
(15:54):
easy well, handled but still. Terrifying another shimmy in the
snug suit as she felt an invisible hands that were.
Up she tried to be, patient tried evaluate it from a,
kinder more human. Perspective surely this man could not be.
Well but the letters kept stacking up, there and so
too did the. Threats dozens at this, point, signed, sealed, delivered.
(16:18):
Deranged it was so concerning that her team now used
facial recognition technology dyesh of her concerts cameras programs specifically
to single Out eric or any other notable, stalker And
taylor's see of. Superfans imagine that you're so famous and
so harassed by a small army of stalkers that facial
(16:40):
recognition technology is specifically programmed and installed to identify the
lunatics who want to kill you. Insane at the very,
least all this madness had been buffered By. Scott Scott
BORSHETTA A Big machine always Had taylor's best interests at.
Heart he had them at heart from the very, beginning
(17:01):
when he had no label to speak of and she
had no massive. Following but one day in two thousand and,
four sitting in the cozy ambiance of The Bluebird cafe In,
Nashville scott saw a future star on stage and made
her a, promise a promise to sign Her Taylor, swift
When Big, machine his record, label was actually in business
(17:22):
and no longer just an idea of floating around in his. Head,
Now Big machine did some of the best business in
the music industry thanks to six albums From taylor that
all could have belonged TO rca could, have But taylor
decided to opt out of that deal so she wouldn't
have to record other people's. SONGS rca called it a development,
(17:43):
deal a promise to dangle in front of a teenage
girl as the label observed her growth as an, artist her,
songwriting her. MUSICIANSHIP rca dangled it for twelve months Before
taylor got wise and got out in the record label's.
Eyes in rcia's, Eyes Taylor swift was just await and
see in the case that country music went more, mainstream
(18:03):
and thus she would have been more profitable for. Them
but APPARENTLY rca hadn't been watching closely. Enough they hadn't
learned yet That Taylor swift didn't sit, still and if
she was, still it was only because she had her
head down for the few moments it took to write
her own. Ticket Because Taylor swift didn't, dream she, planned
(18:26):
she DITCHED rca and began working as a songwriter For
SONY Atv. Publishing every day after, school she pulled up
a chair with writers twice her, age took out her
pen and put her fourteen year old heartaches on, paper
knocked every breakup banger out of the. PARK rca could
develop that after doing that on her own terms for another.
(18:47):
Decade it Was Scott, borchetta NOT, rca who was running
out of space on his walls For Platinum. Records suffice to, say,
Now scott really had her best interests at, heart even
though their contract had come to a. Close upon the
release of her snarling new Album, Reputation taylor started to
warm up as an assistant reapplied her. Lipstick, no she
(19:07):
wouldn't entertain this pity, party not on her, day on
the anniversary of her big win In. Colorado she wasn't
going to ever Give Eric swabrick the satisfaction of free.
Rent in her, mind never, ever, ever she muttered to. Herself,
showtime a, crowbar an aluminum baseball bat lock, picks a
(19:33):
few pairs of rubber. Gloves taylor stopped. Reading she couldn't
bring herself to review the full. List police had caught
another one In Rhode, island this time outside her mansion
In Westerly Holiday, house as the original owner had called
it decades, ago and a man Named David little had
traveled all the way From Des, Moines iowa to see
(19:54):
it see. Her he packed no suitcase for his interstate,
journey just to backpack brimming with more than thirty different
tools commonly used when invading someone's. Home he told the
cops he was there for a, visit swore up and
down that he was friends With taylor and she had
agreed to share some music industry, tips which definitely explained
(20:14):
the tool in his bag made specifically for breaking. Windows,
Right taylor sighed from the safety of another of her,
homes this one In Los. Angeles im poured another round
of treats on the dining room table for her, Cat Olivia.
Benson the Fluffy scottish fold was a Cat taylor had
named after one of her favorite on screen meeting. Ladies
(20:35):
olivia named as a tribute to the Empathetic law And
Order Special Victims unit detective lunched away at her second. Dinner,
Dubiously taylor sighed from the cozy safety of her dining
room while she Scratched olivia behind the. Ears she wished
home always felt as, secure but it was hard to
truly unwind when the police reports stacked up as fast
(20:57):
as fan. Mail there had been one man who came
here to this very house In Los angeles From colorado
was little more than a knife and some rope in his.
Car then there was the prick who had climbed onto
a roof In New york who wasn't even deem mentally
fit to stand. Trial and now Mister little had camped
out In Rhode island for, her eagerly awaiting that quote
(21:19):
unquote career. Advice with a lock pick in one hand
and a crowbar in the. Other the threats, changed the weapons,
changed but at the end of the, day every one
of these men was the same sick bastard deep down.
Inside they all professed love for a woman they never
spent a second, with never even held eye contact, with
so they could claim they shared a smoldering glance from
(21:41):
across the. Room they were in love with A google,
search nothing, more and she very much wanted to be
excluded from their made up. Narratives the. Gloves her mind
kept going back to the. Gloves what did he need
the gloves? FOR a lump slid down her throat in
a familiar, spot the same uncomfortable place is when she
(22:04):
received a different piece of alarming news just a few weeks.
Prior as it turns, Out Scott borschetta did not Have
taylor's best interest at. Heart even, worse he didn't have her.
Masters masters are an artist's official original recording of a
song or. Album if an artist owns their, masters they
(22:27):
can license their music to any artist or third party they,
want and they can rake in royalties in the. Process
if they don't have. Ownership if they don't have their,
masters their intellectual property can create quite the profit for someone.
Else in, short if an artist owns his or her,
masters they could do whatever the hell they want with their.
Music but the opposite applies as. Well if someone else
(22:49):
owns an artist's master, recordings then they can do whatever
the hell they want with the artist's. Music taylor found
out that her masters were gone in the most impersonal
way possible on the, news just like the public. Did
scott had Sold Big machine label group in her life's.
Work along with. It through the sale of the record,
(23:10):
label ownership of her six albums had been transferred To Scooter,
braun the music industry mastermind behind artists Like Ariana grande
And Justin bieber aka the other biggest pop stars in the,
world the other people vying for the number one spots
On spotify playlists In billboard. Charts for, Years braun had
(23:31):
been trying to Topple taylor from the top of the
pop game so his own artists could come and dear
the number one. Position now he'd profit from the very
same songs and albums he had been so eager to
snub taylor. Songs bron also just so happened to be
the former manager Of Kanye, west who not only famously
Interrupted taylor's two thousand and NINE vma acceptance, speech but
(23:55):
later broke out THE b word to refer to her
in his Song famous and for what the sake of
a clever bar a few cruel laughs amongst his guy,
friends and maybe he thought it was dark humor when
he placed a lifelike replica Of taylor's naked body in
a bed with mannequins Resembling Donald trump And Chris brown
for the famous music video. Too if that was the,
(24:17):
Case taylor didn't see the. Humor she only saw The
internet staring at her likeness in the new without her. Consent.
Gross no matter how you looked at, it the man
who represented her direct competition now owned her hard earned original,
Music cue The Bad. Blood it was a nightmare that
was perfectly. Legal in overnight Vanishing, act a lifetime Of taylor's,
(24:41):
work ages fifteen to twenty nine was. Gone Scott borchetta
saw three hundred million dollars from his sale Of Big.
Machine taylor saw, nothing not that she needed the, money
although that's what The internet always made it out to look. Like,
no it was about the, principle the fact that a
man and promised through the world and then sold it
(25:02):
after a decade long. Relationship she had requested to Purchase
The masters on multiple, occasions and the label resisted every,
time not unless she signed another, contract they. Said not
only was that too tit for tat For taylor's, style
it was the exact opposite.
Speaker 2 (25:17):
Of what she.
Speaker 3 (25:18):
Wanted she longed and move forward with a, career but
in a way that she could take her hard earned
musical growth with her Fearless Speak now read nineteen eighty nine,
reputation her self titled. Debut those six albums told the
story of her life to. Date it felt like such
a simple. Request she just wanted full ownership of her. Life,
(25:40):
Overnight Scott borschettow wordlessly told her that she couldn't have.
It no one would let her have. It Not, scott Not,
eric Not. David the men in her, life both welcome and,
unwelcome were making sure of. It we'll be right back
were were. Were the rain wrapping on her window was
(26:11):
so loud that night that she almost didn't hear the
person stirring in her master. Bathroom the pitter patter of
the water streaming from the showerhead blended in with the rain,
drop slulling her to SLEEP a sliver of light slipped
under the bottom of the bathroom door like a gentle.
Warning as she dozed peacefully in Her tribeca, apartment there
(26:33):
was a scraping noise metal shower curtain rings on a
metal curtain, rod then the click of a door. Lock
she shifted in, bed drifting between dreams about world tours
and white. Felines she called out to her, boyfriend who
may or may not have come in late that. Night
she was trapped in the drowsy step between blissful sleep
(26:56):
and lethargic. Consciousness the sliver of light was extinguished and
the room went, dark silence except for the tender taps
on her. Window in her mental, fog she. Paused she,
listened tried to detect the slightest disturbance with ears that
(27:17):
had fine tuned so many hit. Singles. Nothing she rolled,
over pulling the sheets up around her neck like a startled.
Toddler but the sheets wouldn't. Budge something was weighing them.
Down she bolted upright in bed and. BLINKED a black
mass loomed on the edge of her, bed inches from.
(27:37):
Her she prayed it was her, boyfriend prayed it was
anyone she knew as long as it was a familiar.
Face she didn't even get the chance to see you.
Clearly the shadow moved suddenly and, swiftly a hand on her.
Neck pinned to the, bed she felt her throat crumple
under the pressure of his. Grip no, oxygen no cell phone,
nearby no neighbors to cry out to more press fingers
(28:01):
digging into her skin hard enough to leave a, bruise
but she wasn't worried about bruises right. Now the shadow
leaned in, closer so close she could start to discern the.
Details brown, eyes a, beard she had seen it. Before
his hot breath brushed against her. Cheeks her eyes watered
as she felt the last bit of oxygen leave her.
(28:22):
Lungs it escaped her chest as a muddled. Scream she
shot up in, bed gasping for. Air her hands went
right to her. Throat she had been choking on. Nothing
an icy sweat clung to her. Pajamas it was just another.
Nightmare thank. God these are the kinds of chilling nightmares
(28:44):
we can only imagine, torment the dreams of women who
feel the very, real very dangerous grip of stalkers and,
abusers the weight of worries sometimes sneaks its way into the,
subconscious a burdensome weight That Taylor swift is surely well acquainted.
With on this particular, Night taylor was in bed, alone
(29:07):
but in Her Beverly hills home on the opposite side
of the country From New, york thousands of miles From,
tribeca and more, importantly thousands of miles away From Roger.
Alvarado but why did the media always make lists of
her ex? Boyfriends her lists of unwanted suitors Like Roger
alvarado would be so much more. Impressive unwanted suitors fucked
(29:29):
that called them what they, were, stalkers, malicious, illegal invasive,
stalkers And Roger alvarado was among the. Worst the first
time had been upsetting. Enough last year the police found
him napping in the bed of Her New york. Apartment
he had just showered in her private, bathroom fresh as
a demented little. Daisy had he been in bed waiting for?
(29:50):
Her or was burglary really just that? Exhausting it didn't.
Matter what did matter is that he went to, jail
and when his time behind bars was, up he did
it again six months in the clink of attempted burbery
At taylor's home had seemingly taught him. Nothing after his
brief prison, sentence his first priority was shrinking the distance
(30:11):
between himself And taylor. Swift immediately he sprang from his
jail cell and onto the First jetty could find out Of,
florida landed In New, york hailed a cap and took
his first steps of true freedom outside Of Taylor's tribeca.
Home but that wasn't good, Enough because that wasn't close.
Enough he swiped the ladder from a nearby construction, site
(30:31):
poisted himself onto a, patio and smashed her glass door
with a concrete. Paver his unwelcome ntrance cost four thousand
dollars in. Damages the police arrived Before alvarado could get
squeaky clean in her shower this. TIME a reporter later
asked him if he'd do it, again, probably he, said
with more, violence but not towards. HER. O, great that's
(30:54):
cool of. Him taylor swung her legs over the edge
of her, bed and there was no use trying to.
Sleep Now, Island New, York Beverly, hills nowhere was. Saved
the media eagerly shared her home addresses with anyone who
cared to look them, up, which of course was apparently
every whack job on the. Planet Ta swift was already
well beyond the point of sacrificing some sense of normalcy
(31:15):
in her. Life she had handed that over ages ago
when she hired a twenty four to seven security, Team
but somehow she was still knee deep in breaking. Bullshit
how long it had been since she had driven by
herself the calm six years, Eight the question depressed her
years ago tend to be. Exact she had said during
(31:36):
an interview that if she had to choose between walking
down the street, alone unnoticed and playing for thousands of screaming,
fans she'd picked the sold out stadiums without. Hesitation that
nobody had warned her about what happens when the fame
follows you home at night with love letters and a lock.
Pick all she had ever wanted to do was to
(31:57):
connect with, people to be that voice whispering through someone's
headphones in the middle of the night when they had
no one else to turn. To some good that had done.
Her now men were in her, bedrooms ready to return the,
favor except they weren't whispering when she was a teenager
sitting at the table with the other songwriters At. Sony
she wrote what she. Knew she wrote what people her
(32:19):
age could connect. With the adults churned out songs about settling,
down about, complacency. Contentment taylor was fourteen years old at the.
Time she didn't have time for any of, that but
she had was a mix of teenage metal and blushing.
Vulnerability she wrote through the eyes of a frizzy haired
girl From pennsylvania who grew up on A christmas tree.
(32:40):
Firm how about the girl WEARING t shirts and seekers
who begrudgingly watched girls in high heels and cheerleading uniforms
scoop up any boy they. Wanted misfit was a strong.
Word she hadn't been a, misfit but she hadn't quite
fit in as a teenager. Either and then fame spun her,
around slaps. Sparkly how girl boots on her feet and
(33:01):
pushed a million microphones in her, face plastered her face
on every available, billboard and cleared off old billboard specifically
to make room for. Her she was suddenly a sixteen
year old. Superstar and then she really didn't fit. In
she left high school after her sophomore year in favor of.
Homeschooling but even though she no longer had to navigate
(33:22):
the hormone adult halls of her old, school she never
stopped writing music for the people who felt like they
had no safe place to turn to comfort. Music but
at this, Point Taylor swift was the one who could
use some. Comfort she traced her steps back and forth
across the modern and moonlight pooling on her bedroom. Floor
(33:44):
had she opened up too, much given away too much of.
Herself her newest, Album lover seemed to tow that line.
Perfectly she countered her first dance ballads with cheeky bursts
of colorful, pop seemingly taken right from the pages of
giddy teenage diary. Entries the title track could make you,
weepy but a song LIKE I forgot That You existed
(34:07):
snapped you right back down to, earth serious to sassy
and a. Heartbeat lover was more playful than, usual And
taylor could. Play all she wanted was her album after.
All twenty nineteen marked a rare first For Taylor. Swift
she released the first album she had ever. Owned the
(34:27):
freedom of it all made her heart, flutter and maybe
that's what she, needed more fluttering and a lot less anxious.
Pounding On april, ninth twenty twenty, One Taylor swift was
(35:05):
in the ears of super fans and super stalkers alike
as the sounds of her new, Album, Fearless Taylor's version
leapt from stereos around the. World, fearless the two thousand
and eight, album was not something she had any rights.
To she lost those rights when her masters were stripped
from her. Ownership no matter how wrong that, Scene taylor
(35:27):
went back to the beginning so that she could do
things her own. Way she was the new, boss the,
owner THE. Ceo she re recorded all nineteen songs Of
fearless for the deluxe edition of the, album alongside guests
of her choice and in the order she, wanted and once,
Again Taylor swift was, everywhere especially on the. Charts the
(35:52):
New Fearless Taylor's version debuted at number one on The
billboard two hundred old hat For Taylor swift at this,
point as it was her ninth album to do, so
but the release marked the first time any re recorded
album had ever topped on the. Chart the feat was
spurned on by fifty million global streams on its, Release
dad itself a record for the biggest opening day of
(36:15):
any album On spotify that. Year that record would hold
up for seven whole months until she broke it with
her next re, Release Red And there was Another. Thing.
Fearless taylor's version boasted the biggest first week's sales of
any country album in six. Years the records were, nice
but all that ultimately didn't matter To. Taylor what mattered
(36:37):
was that the album came together at, all that she
had found a way to take her creative past with
her and simultaneously leave all the baggage at someone else's front.
Steps the New fearless represented more than just a necessary.
Redo it was a, reassessment a chance to peer inside
herself and examine what she wanted to put into the,
world what pieces of her heart she wanted to offer,
(37:00):
up in which pieces were better to keep. Private she
reached so far into herself that she found old songs
that didn't make the cut the first time. Around now
more than ten years, old Teenage taylor had written. Them
Adult taylor breathed new life into. Them they were in
better hands, now between the previously unheard material and the re.
(37:21):
Recordings the New fearless was a twenty six Song. Beheamoth
it took up space and stood its, ground and the
Vault Taylor swift's catalog had been cracked wide, open and
finally it Was taylor who held the. Key in the
hush of twenty, twenty she could hear. Clearly she heard
(37:42):
exactly how she Wanted fearless to sound the second time.
Around for once there was nothing to tune. Out the
world had slowed to a quiet, crawl and so had
the danger and. Drama her deadliest followers could do little
more than peer at or social media accounts from behind,
bars and the other would be suitors remained in the
(38:02):
prison of their own. Homes paralyzed by THE covid nineteen,
Pandemic taylor's mental mute button grew, cobwebs And Taylor, swift
the Real Taylor, swift basted in the glove at all
in The Beverly hill's. Home it was crazy to think
how many houses she was in right, now how many
dance parties were going on amongst teenage, girls how many
(38:24):
first kisses were, happening and likely a few backseat breakups as.
Well but they had all welcomed her into their. Homes in,
return she gave them a very carefully curated version of
herself back not too, little not too, much miss perfectly.
Fine the new album had soothed so many, stings the
(38:45):
sting of losing her music in the first, place the original,
masters the sting of the recent resale of her masters
to a private equity, firm the sting of the people
who entered her life with a peace sign and left
giving her the. Finger this was her comfort. Music her phone,
Chirped she checked the CALLER id her security. Team. Shit taylor,
(39:07):
answered but didn't say. Hello cops had peeled another one
away from the doors of Her tribec. Apartment he, says
he knows. You the voice on the other in the
line told her none of them know. Me taylor, said
they don't know me at. All this one was older than,
usual fifty. Two an onlooker had spotted him and called
(39:29):
nine one. One today marked his fifth try at least
to Catch taylor's whear's attention outside Her New york homb
and this time the stalker left in. Handcuffs and you
could say that he was, dedicated but it's more accurate
to say that he was A. Disgrace I'm Jake brennan
(39:50):
in This This DISGRACE i have to.
Speaker 2 (39:52):
Do the.
Speaker 3 (40:04):
Disgracelam is created By Yours truly and is produced in
partnership With Double, Elvis The Exactly Right, network And iHeart.
Podcasts credits for this episode can be found on the
show notes page at disgracelampod dot. Com if you're listening
as A Disgraceland All access, member thank you for supporting the.
Show we really appreciate, it and if, not you can
(40:24):
become a member right now by going to disgracelampod dot
com Slash membership members can listen to every episode Of
disgraceland ad, free rate and review the, show and follow
us On, instagram, TikTok, twitter And facebook at disgracelampod and
on YouTube at YouTube dot com slash at disgracelampod Rock.
Arolla all, right, guys thanks for checking out this classic
(40:53):
rewind episode Of. Disgraceland what do you think would you
give up your privacy even if it meant living under
the car constant threat of? Harm Like Taylor swift six
one seven nine oh six sixty six three eight to
let us know via voicemail and text At. Disgrace lampod
on the, socials rock a rolla
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