A legal dispute has resurfaced involving a Florida artist who claims that Taylor Swift and her collaborators used her creative work without permission. The lawsuit, originally filed in February, is drawing attention not only because of the celebrity names involved but also due to the unusual number of other well-known artists referenced throughout the legal complaint.
A Background of the Lawsuit
Kimberly Marasco, a visual artist and writer from Florida, filed the lawsuit against Taylor Swift, producers Jack Antonoff and Aaron Dessner, along with Universal Music Group and Republic Records. This is not her first legal action against Swift—Marasco had previously filed a similar complaint in 2024. Though Swift herself was dismissed from that case, the suit against her production company continues.
In the new filing, Marasco alleges that Swift’s albums—specifically “Lover”, “Folklore”, “Midnights”, and “The Tortured Poets Department”—include lyrics and visuals that strongly resemble her original poetry and artwork. She believes the content from her poems was used without her knowledge or consent.
Jack Antonoff and Aaron Dessner Also Named
Instagram | taylorswifturuguay | According to Marasco, Antonoff, a key collaborator with Aaron Dessner on many of Taylor Swift’s recent songs, utilized her poetry in his contributions.
Producers Jack Antonoff and Aaron Dessner are key collaborators on many of Taylor Swift’s recent works. Marasco claims Antonoff contributed to songs like “Illicit Affairs” and “Down Bad”, which she argues contain elements copied from her poetry.
Dessner is also mentioned in the complaint, tied to songs such as “Hoax” from “Folklore” and “Death by a Thousand Cuts” from “Lover”. Marasco argues that these tracks echo themes, expressions, and creative angles from her writings.
Other Celebrities Referenced in the Complaint
Although only Swift, Antonoff, and Dessner are officially named in the lawsuit, several other public figures appear in the filing—not as defendants, but as part of comparisons made by Marasco or defense attorneys.
Beyoncé
One of the more high-profile mentions includes Beyoncé. Defense attorneys compared one of Marasco’s poems to “If I Were a Boy”, arguing that similar themes exist. Marasco dismissed the comparison, stating that her poem “Ordinary Citizen” deals with professional settings and specific expressions that Beyoncé’s song does not reflect. In her words, “The two works aren’t even in the same context and share no unique language.”
Chaka Khan
Another comparison made by defense attorneys referenced “A Woman in a Man’s World” by Chaka Khan. Marasco’s response was that her poem does not mirror the lyrics about the entertainment industry or struggles described in Khan’s song. She stated her work addresses internal emotional storms, rather than external career struggles.
Elon Musk
Marasco also included references to Elon Musk in her court documents. She had written a poem titled “Elon=MC2” and pointed out a lyric from Swift’s “Mastermind” that says, “To assess the equation of you.” She suggested that framing a person as a mathematical equation is too similar to her expression and may reflect unauthorized borrowing.
Brad Paisley
Country singer Brad Paisley’s work was brought up in relation to Swift’s “Midnight Rain”. Marasco believes the song closely mirrors her poem “Delusional Reality”. When defense attorneys drew comparisons to Paisley’s “Perfect Storm”, Marasco responded that the lyrical metaphors and emotional tone in her work were not aligned with Paisley’s portrayal of duality in a romantic partner. She argued her poem conveyed emotional overwhelm rather than relationship dynamics.
Elton John
Defense attorneys also referenced “Candle in the Wind” by Elton John to draw parallels with Marasco’s work. She pushed back, noting that John’s song is stylistically and contextually unrelated to her creative material.
Lady Gaga
In an exhibit attached to the lawsuit, Marasco mentioned that a pose Lady Gaga made resembled a sketch she used on one of her book covers. She suggested that this further proved awareness of her work in the broader music industry.
Kim Kardashian
Instagram | kimkardashian | Kim Kardashian’s name was present in an exhibit examining Swift’s “thanK you aIMee.”
While not officially part of the complaint, Kim Kardashian’s name appeared in an exhibit analyzing Swift’s song “thanK you aIMee”. Fans have speculated that the title hints at Kardashian, based on the unusual capitalization.
Marasco challenged that theory by pointing out lyrics like, “A song that only us two is gonna know is about you,” saying this line implies the subject isn’t widely recognizable, contradicting assumptions it’s about Kardashian.
Legal Standing and Next Steps
All named defendants, except for Taylor Swift, have been formally served. The presiding judge has ordered a hold on legal responses until Swift also receives official notice.
Marasco expressed frustration over what she described as repeated unauthorized use of her creative ideas. She stated, “The damage done to my creative rights is ongoing. What they released wasn’t just similar—it was unauthorized and uncredited.”
Why This Case Is Getting Attention
The lawsuit has stirred interest not just because it involves Taylor Swift but also because it brings in other major figures from the entertainment world. While they are not being sued, the inclusion of names like Beyoncé, Elon Musk, and Lady Gaga adds layers to the conversation about artistic originality and ownership in the digital age.
The case also highlights the complicated relationship between inspiration and infringement in the creative world. Marasco argues that what she created was not only original but recognizable enough to have allegedly influenced some of today’s most talked-about music releases.
Whether or not the lawsuit holds up in court remains to be seen. But for now, it brings the topic of intellectual property and creative boundaries back into the spotlight—especially as artists across industries continue to push for stronger protection of their work.
