who is father figure taylor swift about

Taylor Swift's song "Father Figure" from her 12th album "The Life of a Showgirl" is about a complex relationship with a mentor or authority figure in the music industry, widely interpreted as a rebuke of Scott Borchetta, the former CEO of her original record label, Big Machine Records. The song incorporates and reinterprets George Michael's 1987 hit of the same name, using the concept of a "father figure" to explore themes of loyalty, betrayal, power struggles, and the exploitation of young talent in the music business. In the song, Swift adopts the perspective of someone who once took her under their wing (like a father figure), promising protection and loyalty, but who ultimately exploited her for profit. She sings about deals with the "devil" and asserts her own strength and ownership, referencing her real-life battle to regain control over her masters, which were originally sold by Borchetta to Scooter Braun. The lyrics portray the mentor figure as initially protective but ultimately controlling and threatening once she asserted independence. There are also fan theories that "Father Figure" could be partly about other figures like Olivia Rodrigo, who was once regarded as Swift's protégé, or Scooter Braun. However, the dominant interpretation sees the song as a metaphorical and literal narrative of Swift's past experiences with Borchetta and the wider music industry power dynamics. In summary, "Father Figure" is about Taylor Swift's challenging and fraught relationship with her former record label head, Scott Borchetta, using the metaphor of a "father figure" to discuss loyalty, betrayal, and reclaiming power in the music industry.