JUST IN: Music Industry Shaken as Taylor Swift Sues Kanye West for Defamation—Claims Years of Targeted Harassment and False Narratives

Taylor Swift Files Explosive Defamation Lawsuit Against Kanye West, Marking a Stunning Turn in Their Decade-Long Feud

By Entertainment Correspondent | April 12, 2025

In a jaw-dropping turn of events that has sent shockwaves through the music industry and social media alike, pop megastar Taylor Swift has officially filed a defamation lawsuit against rapper and fashion mogul Kanye West, reigniting a long-smoldering feud that has spanned more than a decade.

The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court late Friday, alleges that West engaged in a “calculated and malicious campaign” to tarnish Swift’s reputation through “false, defamatory, and deeply damaging statements,” as well as “unauthorized recordings and deliberate misrepresentation of private conversations.” Swift is seeking $50 million in damages, as well as a public retraction and formal apology.

A Decade of Drama Reignites

Their turbulent history traces back to the infamous 2009 MTV Video Music Awards, where West stormed the stage during Swift’s acceptance speech. While the pair appeared to reconcile in the years following, tensions reignited in 2016 with the release of West’s song “Famous”, in which he claimed he “made that b**** famous.” Swift publicly denounced the lyric, while West insisted she had approved it—a claim backed by a secretly recorded phone call leaked by his then-wife, Kim Kardashian.

Now, nearly nine years later, Swift’s legal team says the time has come for accountability.

“This is not about publicity or personal vendettas. It is about standing up to bullying, manipulation, and the repeated attempts to discredit and control a woman’s narrative,” said Swift’s attorney, Marla Hendricks, in a press statement.

The Allegations

According to court documents, the lawsuit references not only the controversial Famous lyric and the leaked phone call, but also a series of recent interviews and social media posts made by West in which he allegedly reiterated “falsehoods” about his interactions with Swift and portrayed her as “calculating, deceptive, and ungrateful.”

Swift claims these comments have caused her emotional distress, loss of endorsement deals, and damage to her public image—particularly as she continues her record-breaking Eras Tour and upcoming album cycle.

Kanye’s Camp Responds

West’s team has responded with skepticism, calling the lawsuit “a desperate stunt” and stating that “Mr. West stands by his artistic expression and his right to speak freely.”

So far, West himself has remained publicly silent.

Fans Take Sides

As expected, Swifties and Kanye loyalists have taken to the internet in full force. #TeamTaylor and #KanyeInnocent trended within hours of the news breaking, with celebrities, influencers, and fans weighing in on what many are calling “the music feud of the decade.”

Industry insiders speculate that the case could have major implications for how artists handle consent, creative license, and public narrative control in the digital age.