Taylor Swift's lawyers have threatened legal action against a college student that runs social media accounts tracking her private jets.
In a new report, The Washington Post writes that Jack Sweeney, a junior at the University of Central Florida, was sent a cease-and-desist letter by Swift's legal team. In the letter, which Sweeney, 21, shared with the Post, the pop star's attorney wrote that if he did not stop posting, which they called "stalking and harassing behavior," Swift would "have no choice but to pursue any and all legal remedies." The accounts, her lawyer wrote, caused Swift "direct and irreparable harm, as well as emotional and physical distress" and increased her "constant state of fear for her personal safety."
Swift's lawyer, Katie Wright Morrone, added, "While this may be a game to you, or an avenue that you hope will earn you wealth or fame, it is a life-or-death matter" for Swift, continuing that there is "no legitimate interest in or public need for this information, other than to stalk, harass, and exert dominion and control."
In another part of the letter, they write Sweeney is "notorious for disregarding the personal safety of others in exchange for public attention and/or requests for financial gain," referencing his other jet tracking accounts. (The Post notes that Sweeney has run accounts that "log the takeoffs and landings of planes and helicopters owned by hundreds of billionaires, politicians, Russian oligarchs and other public figures, along with estimates of their planet-warming emissions.")
Tree Paine, Swift's spokesperson, linked the jet tracking accounts to the arrest of a stalker at Swift's home in Manhattan, saying, "We cannot comment on any ongoing police investigation but can confirm the timing of stalkers suggests a connection. His posts tell you exactly when and where she would be."
In response, Sweeney told the Post, "This information is already out there. Her team thinks they can control the world." James Slater, a lawyer who specializes in the First Amendment, responded to the letter on Sweeney's behalf, telling the Post, "This isn’t about putting a GPS tracker on someone and invading their privacy. It’s using public information to track the jet of a public figure. This is their means to try to quash a PR issue and bully my client to have the bad coverage die down."
Emily Burack (she/her) is the Senior News Editor for Town & Country, where she covers entertainment, culture, the royals, and a range of other subjects. Before joining T&C, she was the deputy managing editor at Hey Alma, a Jewish culture site. Follow her @emburack on Twitter and Instagram.
