Taylor Swift Accused of Ripping Off Image for ‘1989’ Promotion

Artist says her image of a fox was used without her permission

Singer Taylor Swift performs onstage
Getty Images

Not very sly of you, Taylor Swift.

The “Shake it Off” singer has been accused by a New Orleans artist of using her illustration of a fox without permission to promote Swift’s album “1989.”

Artist Ally Burguieres leveled the accusation in an open letter to Swift on her gallery’s website. The letter, titled “Dear Taylor, Love Ally,” says that Burguieres “was astonished to see you use one of my most popular designs on all your official social media platforms as part of your promotion for ‘1989.’”

The letter continues, “While I wondered why no one had sought permission or offered compensation to do so, I recognized that such endorsement is a once-in-a-lifetime boost for an artist and can skyrocket an artist’s career.” However, Burguieres says, the image “was a copy, and with someone else’s name signed to it.”

Burguieres says that since Swift is “so outspoken about artists’ rights” — an apparent reference to the singer’s showdown with Apple Music — she figured the singer was simply unaware of the mistake, and would fix it if it was brought to her attention. However, the artist claims, things didn’t exactly go that way.

“My efforts to combat the pirated and unauthorized copy (and your use and distribution of it to millions of people) were noticed, as you removed the post after several days. But the copy had been shared and downloaded countless times, and it seemed neither you nor your team intended on correcting the mistake.”

Burguieres claims that, “after months of effort,” she received an offer from Team Swift for a payment of “a ‘four figure’ amount,” on the condition that the artist must donate the entire amount — an unacceptable solution, Burguieres says.

“Taylor, as a professional, would you agree to such terms from Apple, or Spotify? My work is my living — it is how I pay bills and support my family and employees,” the letter reads.

Burguieres concludes the letter, “I simply hope to see your actions fall more in line with the values you claim to hold.”

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