Joseph Kahn denies the 'Lemonade' comparison and tells fans not to jump into conclusion before watching the music video in full.
- Aug 27, 2017
AceShowbiz - Joseph Kahn speaks out after the music video he directed for Taylor Swift's "Look What You Made Me Do" was compared to Beyonce Knowles' "Lemonade" visuals. A scene where Taylor, decked out in all black, commands a row of male backup dancers sparks comparison with the one seen in Bey's "Formation" video.
Beyoncé played on being a plantation owner in Formation & now that Taylor Swift is ripping from it she's trying to be one too #WhiteFeminism pic.twitter.com/P3z0CD1v8E
— Casey Hoke (@caseycreates) August 25, 2017
Lemonade and Minute Maid pic.twitter.com/onBLP9pHvR
— Neal Carter (@nealcarter) August 25, 2017
The song is a poor man's Britney, the video's gonna be a poor man's Beyonce. Taylor Swift wants to be anyone but Taylor Swift. pic.twitter.com/Krar1JFuNJ
— Feitelberg (@FeitsBarstool) August 25, 2017
"I've worked with Beyonce a few times. She's an amazing person. The #LWYMMDvideo is not in her art space. Love and respect to Bey," Joseph took it to Twitter to respond to the critical comments while referring to his past work with Queen Bey on Destiny's Child's "Say My Name" and "Jumpin' Jumpin' " music videos.
I've worked with Beyoncé a few times. She's an amazing person. The #LWYMMDvideo is not in her art space. Love and respect to Bey.
— Joseph Kahn (@JosephKahn) August 26, 2017
Taylor's video actually hasn't been premiered in full yet. The scene that sparks Beyonce comparison was only glimpsed briefly in a short clip released on "Good Morning America". The video was initially expected to be premiered on the ABC breakfast show, but it was later announced to debut at the MTV Video Music Awards.
"Also there's something to that 'formation' shot I painted out and you haven't seen yet. Stay tuned Sunday :)#LWYMMDvideo#SneakyAsian," Joseph added. The director then quipped, "Before video release: Kahn copying Lemonade. After video release: Kahn copying obscure K Pop video made in North Korean prison in 2006."
Also there's something to that "formation" shot I painted out and you haven't seen yet. Stay tuned Sunday :)#LWYMMDvideo#SneakyAsian
— Joseph Kahn (@JosephKahn) August 26, 2017
Before video release: Kahn copying Lemonade
After video release: Kahn copying obscure K Pop video made in North Korean prison in 2006 😘
— Joseph Kahn (@JosephKahn) August 25, 2017
Taylor Swift is rumored to diss her enemies in "Look What You Made Me Do". The "tilted stage" in the lyrics was supposedly a subtle jab at Kanye West who used tilted stage on his recent Saint Pablo tour while the line, "locked me out and threw a feast", supposedly referred to Katy Perry who has a single called "Bon Apetit".
Taylor and Kanye first clashed in 2009 when Kanye crashed Taylor's Best Female Video acceptance speech at the VMAs. They later made up at the 2015 Grammys, but they were involved in another public spat after Kanye called her "b***h" in his song "Famous". Kim Kardashian claimed Taylor approved of the song and then released a recording of Kanye's phone conversation with the singer.
Meanwhile, Taylor got into a feud with Katy after she said in a 2015 interview that her song "Bad Blood" was about a fellow female artist who tried to sabotage her tour by hiring people who worked for her. While she didn't mention Katy's name, she didn't clarify either when the media speculated that it was Katy she had "bad blood" with.
The song was co-written by Taylor and Jack Antonoff. It sampled Right Said Fred's "I'm Too Sexy". The group said Taylor and her team contacted them to get permission to use their music and they gave their blessing. "She and everyone around her have been great," band member Richard Fairbrass told PEOPLE.
"We had people on the phone from the U.S. just checking that we were okay for her to use it and that we were cool with it and weren't going to kick up a fuss - which, obviously, we didn't," he said. "Fred and I have always been of the view that it's the song that is the most important thing and musicians should always stick together because if we start to get a bit angry with each other that’s when it gets a bit depressing."
After the song was released, the group received flowers along with a handwritten note signed by the "Blank Space" singer and her co-writer. "Look what you made us do...we love you and can't wait for a chance to celebrate with you!" read the message. "Thank you so much to @taylorswift13 & @jackantonoff - very kind!" the band shared a picture of the bouquet on Twitter.
Thank you so much to @taylorswift13 & @jackantonoff - very kind!
(📸: Karl Adamson) pic.twitter.com/BWqrcCnYas
— Right Said Fred (@TheFreds) August 25, 2017
"LWYMMD" is the first official single from Taylor's new studio album "Reputation". A follow-up to her 2014 effort "1989", it's due November 10, which is coincidentally the anniversary of the death of Kanye's mother. Taylor's rep, however, insists "there is no correlation" between the two events.
Taylor teams up with UPS for the release of her next studio installment. The company will be the "official delivery partner" for her new album. UPS trucks featuring her album cover art will hit the road starting August 26 in Atlanta, Nashville, and New York City. Fans will have "an improved opportunity" to get her concert tickets if they take a picture of one of the trucks, share it online, tag UPS, and add the hashtag #TaylorSwiftDelivery.
You could win an exclusive #TaylorSwiftDelivery by pre-ordering* Taylor’s new album #reputation from UPS. https://t.co/OpvEIOQYMa pic.twitter.com/mvHjzXbn5T
— UPS (@UPS) August 25, 2017