Sia denies using ‘blackface’ after Taylor Swift fans unearth old picture
Sia has been forced to defend herself after Taylor Swift fans accused her of using blackface in an unearthed photo.
The Chandelier singer first found herself embroiled in drama when she took to social media to defend Scooter Braun, who Swift has accused of bullying her for years before buying her entire music catalogue.
Watch Taylor Swift and Brendon Urie perform Me at The Billboard Music Awards:
On Sunday, Sia turned to Twitter describe the music mogul as a "good kind man", telling him: "I love you keep going".
Swift fans didn't take kindly to the 43-year-old's post and dug out an old picture of her wearing black face paint during a performance in Australia in February 2011.
"Girl,sit [sic] ur blackface a** down," wrote Twitter user @Iamfancojooste, with @olyviacooke adding: "swifties [sic] already dug up sia in blackface omgggg they’re out for blood as they should".
However, Sia has now denied claims of blackface, insisting she was painting herself into the backdrop of her Adelaide performance.
Posting a video of the show to exemplify her point, the Cheap Thrills star wrote: "For the swift fans trying to make out that I would ever do blackface please see this video. I was painting myself into the backdrop, it was a pre cursor to the wig..."
The Australian singer is not the only celebrity to back Braun in his dispute with Swift. Justin Bieber has called the Shake It Off singer out for encouraging bullying, writing: "What were you trying to accomplish by posting that blog? seems [sic] to me like it was to get sympathy [sic] u [sic] also knew that in posting that your fans would go and bully scooter [sic].
"Anyway, One thing i [sic] know is both scooter [sic] and i [sic] love you. I feel like the only way to resolve conflict is through communication. So banter back and fourth online i dont [sic] believe [it] solves anything. I’m sure Scooter and i [sic] would love to talk to you and resolve any conflict, pain or or [sic] any feelings that need to be addressed."
Nonetheless, several artists including Halsey, Camila Cabello and Brendon Urie have spoken out in support for the Bad Blood superstar.
Cara Delevingne was particularly passionate in her post, telling Justin Bieber he needed to "spend less time sticking up for men and more time trying to understand women and respecting their valid reaction".
This article first appeared on VT.co and was shared with permission.