Jack Antonoff Says Questioning Taylor Swift’s Songwriting Ability ‘Is Like Challenging Someone’s Faith in God. You Don’t Go There’

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Feb 29, 2024 2:41pm PT
Jack Antonoff Says Questioning Taylor Swift’s Songwriting Ability ‘Is Like Challenging Someone’s Faith in God. You Don’t Go There’

By Zack Sharf

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Taylor Swift Grammys Win New Album
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Jack Antonoff has no time for anyone interested in slandering Taylor Swift‘s abilities as a songwriter. The Grammy-winning producer and longtime Swift collaborator recently told the Los Angeles Times that questioning Swift’s songwriting “is like challenging someone’s faith in God. You just don’t go there.”

“I’m a little bitch sometimes,” he added. “But you come after my friend Taylor, you’re toast to me.”

Blur and Gorillaz frontman Damon Albarn ignited outrage among Swift fans in 2022 after he told the LA Times that Swift “doesn’t write her own songs.”

“A really interesting songwriter is Billie Eilish and her brother,” he added at the time. “I’m more attracted to that than to Taylor Swift. It’s just darker — less endlessly upbeat. Way more minor and odd. I think she’s exceptional.”

Albarn’s diss prompted Antonoff to take to Twitter at the time to post: “I’ve never met Damon Albarn and he’s never been to my studio but apparently he knows more than the rest of us about all those songs Taylor writes and brings in. Herb.”

In his new LA Times interview, Antonoff also hit out at one of Swift’s longtime antagonizers Kanye West, saying he “just needs his diaper changed so badly.”

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Variety
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Feb 29, 2024 2:41pm PT
Jack Antonoff Says Questioning Taylor Swift’s Songwriting Ability ‘Is Like Challenging Someone’s Faith in God. You Don’t Go There’

By Zack Sharf

Plus Icon
Taylor Swift Grammys Win New Album
Getty Images
Popular on Variety

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Jack Antonoff has no time for anyone interested in slandering Taylor Swift‘s abilities as a songwriter. The Grammy-winning producer and longtime Swift collaborator recently told the Los Angeles Times that questioning Swift’s songwriting “is like challenging someone’s faith in God. You just don’t go there.”

“I’m a little bitch sometimes,” he added. “But you come after my friend Taylor, you’re toast to me.”

Blur and Gorillaz frontman Damon Albarn ignited outrage among Swift fans in 2022 after he told the LA Times that Swift “doesn’t write her own songs.”

“A really interesting songwriter is Billie Eilish and her brother,” he added at the time. “I’m more attracted to that than to Taylor Swift. It’s just darker — less endlessly upbeat. Way more minor and odd. I think she’s exceptional.”

Albarn’s diss prompted Antonoff to take to Twitter at the time to post: “I’ve never met Damon Albarn and he’s never been to my studio but apparently he knows more than the rest of us about all those songs Taylor writes and brings in. Herb.”

In his new LA Times interview, Antonoff also hit out at one of Swift’s longtime antagonizers Kanye West, saying he “just needs his diaper changed so badly.”

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“It’s been a long time since I would’ve taken Kanye’s call,” Antonoff added. “I’m so incredibly bored when someone doesn’t have the sauce anymore, so they go elsewhere to shock. It’s just a remarkable waste of space.”

It’s not yet confirmed that Antonoff helped produce Swift’s surprise upcoming album “The Tortured Poets Department,” although it would seem likely given he’s worked with the singer on every album dating back to “1989.” Swift pulled a fast one on her devoted fanbase when she announced the new album at the Grammys earlier this month. Everyone expected Swift to announce “Reputation (Taylor’s Version).” Instead, she revealed she had an entirely new album ready to go with 16 tracks and several bonus songs.

“I have heard some of it. It is unbelievable,” Swift’s boyfriend Travis Kelce said during a Super Bowl press conference shortly after she announced the album. “I can’t wait for her to shake up the world when it finally drops.”