If only she could simply shake this one off.
Taylor Swift is reportedly being sued for $42 million by another artist who says she stole the lyrics to her hit song “Shake It Off.”
A little-known R&B singer named Jesse Braham – who goes by the stage name Jesse Graham -- filed the suit in federal court, claiming that part of Swift’s 2014 track was ripped off his song "Haters Gone Hate.”
Braham said he copyrighted the tune in February 2013 and included in the suit a link to his song, which apparently was released in December 2013, CNNMoney reports.
The song’s lyrics include: "Haters gone hate, playas gone play. Watch out for them fakers, they'll fake you every day."
Similarly, Swift's song includes the following lyrics: "Cause the players gonna play, play, play, play, play. And the haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate", as well as "And the fakers gonna fake, fake, fake, fake, fake.”
Though Braham’s lyrics bear an undeniable resemblance to that of “Shake It off,” which appeared on Swift’s “1989” album, the melodies are incomparable. Furthermore, Braham only has 31 subscribers on YouTube, making the chances that Swift even heard the tune – which hardly has over 100 thumbs up on YouTube and over 1,600 thumbs down -- unlikely.
Braham, who filed the suit without an attorney, is seeking $42 million in damages from Swift and Sony, her record label. The suit also seeks to have Braham’s name added as a songwriter to "Shake It Off."
