The Story of Us: Revisiting the Tale of Taylor Swift’s & FTX’s Deal

Amidst the ebb and flow of information surrounding FTX, the now-defunct crypto exchange, a thought-provoking twist has emerged, involving none other than Taylor Swift, a prominent figure in the realm of singer-songwriters. The blonde hair superstar has pretty much become a household name and you would have to be living in the treacherous depths of the deep blue sea to not know of this starlet.

Initial reports hinted at Taylor's astute awareness of the exchange's impending downfall, leading her to abstain from forging a partnership with Sam Bankman-Fried's (SBF), the man of FTX. Earlier accounts suggested that Swift had declined the deal due to concerns surrounding unregistered securities, as disclosed by Adam Moskowitz, a lawyer involved in a class action lawsuit against FTX and its celebrity endorsers, during an episode of The Block's podcast, The Scoop, back in April.

However, recent revelations have brought to light an intriguing development — Taylor Swift did, in fact, affix her signature to the vacant expanse of the contract, contrary to earlier beliefs.

Taylor’s Known for her Financial Acumen and Foresight?
It has been disclosed by an esteemed investor that the pop superstar possesses a penchant for a particular category of mutual fund. Boaz Weinstein, a hedge fund manager, attended a Swift concert in Philadelphia this May alongside his daughters, and playfully remarked that the singer's astute investment acumen contributes to her remarkable allure.

He tweeted that, “Having a blast watching our daughters sing every lyric tonight in Philly. Did you know that @taylorswift13 invests in discounted closed end funds? You think I'm kidding, but her father Scott told me so!”

Taylor, whose father, Scott Swift, had a prior affiliation with Merrill Lynch, has consistently demonstrated her financial acumen throughout the years.

She Knew He Was Trouble, But Actually, He Knew She Was Trouble
Earlier this year, Adam Moskowitz, publicly commended Swift as the one individual who conducted thorough due diligence. He claimed that she diligently sought evidence from FTX to substantiate the legitimacy of their operations, which seemingly led to the partnership's unraveling.

Back to December, it was reported that the collapse of a six-month negotiation period was attributed to none other than the acclaimed "Speak now" singer. She had ultimately committed to the agreement according to sources close to the matter. The proposed deal was set to be a tour sponsorship deal and was valued at $100 million.

However, recent revelations from a well-informed source disclosed to CNBC and multiple insiders shared with The New York Times shed new light on the situation. Contrary to previous narratives, these sources assert that Taylor was fully committed to the agreement, even sending a signed contract, until undisclosed factors influenced FTX founder and then-CEO SBF to withdraw from the deal. Adam also admitted his lack of insider information regarding the discussions between FTX and Taylor.

While it is conceivable that she sought clarification from FTX and her legal team regarding the exchange's potential involvement in the sale of unregistered securities, it appears that the response she received was insufficient to dissuade her from affixing her signature to the contract.

Should Have Said No and That Was What He Did
Long story short, according to a CNBC report, it was revealed that SBF's decision regarding the deal was heavily influenced by a group of executives. Furthermore, an earlier report from the Financial Times indicated that the marketing department of the company also expressed reservations about the agreement.

Notably, the opposition to the deal included prominent figures such as Brett Harrison, the former United States (US) FTX President, and Ryne Miller, the US general counsel. The primary concern that led to this resistance was the staggering cost associated with the deal. Moreover, doubts were raised regarding the potential value that the deal would bring to the company's existing user base. These doubts stemmed from the fact that the advertising agenda primarily aimed to attract prospective cryptocurrency traders.

Taylor Dodged a Bullet and is Out of the Woods
If the proposed deal between Taylor and FTX had come to fruition, the acclaimed singer would have potentially joined the ranks of numerous celebrities who have ventured into endorsing cryptocurrency products in recent years, only to find themselves grappling with evaporated earnings and legal complications following FTX's highly publicised collapse last autumn. Notably, other prominent figures who had eagerly embraced endorsement deals with FTX faced lawsuits when the exchange declared bankruptcy last November.

Look What You Made Me Do: No Medicine for Regrets
The list of celebrities entangled in this legal quagmire includes well-known names such as Tom Brady, Larry David, Gisele Bundchen, Stephen Curry, Shaquille O'Neal, Kevin OLeary, and Naomi Osaka, all of whom had inked agreements with FTX prior to its downfall.

For instance, Kevin O'Leary, known as Mr. Wonderful, ventured into the FTX realm by acquiring an equity stake and receiving a substantial crypto payment valued at nearly $15 million, only to later witness the majority of those funds dissipate.

Meanwhile, power couple Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen lent their star power to FTX through a remarkable $20 million ad campaign. Additionally, sports icons David Ortiz and Udonis Haslem enthusiastically embraced the FTX venture, with Haslem openly admitting to incurring losses amounting to $15 million. Not to be overlooked, the illustrious Larry David made a memorable appearance in an FTX Super Bowl commercial, which came with a hefty price tag of $6.5 million for the exchange.

These celebrities, along with others who had lent their support to FTX and various cryptocurrency ventures in recent times, such as Jimmy Fallon and Madonna, have found themselves under heightened scrutiny and faced accusations of lending credibility to risky crypto products through their endorsements.

A Love Story We Will Never Know
While the proposed deal between Taylor and FTX ultimately did not come to fruition, the “Blank space” Pop singer did manage to dodge the FTX debacle. Regardless of what had transpired, she is in fact the lucky one who got out. But what led her to take the leap in the first place, and how might this turn of events impact her future collaborations and business ventures if it had gotten the green light?

It is truly intriguing to observe how even celebrities, who possess access to top-tier legal counsel, can find themselves entangled in dubious agreements. It appears as though the allure of substantial financial gains has the potential to overshadow the importance of thorough due diligence, compelling them to plunge into murky waters without hesitation. This raises compelling questions about the dynamics at play, the pressures faced by celebrities in the realm of high-stakes deals, and the lessons that can be gleaned from these encounters.