{"id":664490,"date":"2026-06-29T15:07:07","date_gmt":"2026-06-29T15:07:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/664490\/"},"modified":"2026-06-29T15:07:07","modified_gmt":"2026-06-29T15:07:07","slug":"staind-frontman-aaron-lewis-responds-to-his-soon-to-be-released-maga-album-cover-already-being-used-as-shredded-packaging-for-taylor-swift-merch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/664490\/","title":{"rendered":"Staind frontman Aaron Lewis responds to his soon-to-be-released MAGA album cover already being used as shredded packaging for Taylor Swift merch"},"content":{"rendered":"

Aaron Lewis has responded after a Taylor Swift<\/a> fan found his upcoming album being used as shredded packaging for the pop star\u2019s merch.<\/p>\n

READ MORE:\u00a0Taylor Swift \u2013 \u2018The Life Of A Showgirl\u2019 review: magical when the songwriter just lets herself be<\/a><\/p>\n

In a social media post, the Staind frontman responded to a Swift fan\u2019s unboxing video that showed her piecing together bits of shredded paper that, when put back together, made up the cover of Lewis\u2019s unreleased album, \u2018Give Me Back My Country\u2019.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh look, there\u2019s my new album, that hasn\u2019t even been released yet, shredded as packaging paper in Taylor Swift merch,\u201d Lewis wrote on X\/Twitter. \u201cAin\u2019t that some shit.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fans who ordered the CD collection for Swift\u2019s new track \u2018I Knew It, I Knew You<\/a>\u2018 for the\u00a0Toy Story 5<\/a> soundtrack took to social media to show that the merchandise arrived wrapped in paper that featured lyrics, art, and album pages from Lewis\u2019s album, which is due out July 17.<\/p>\n

Because of her penchant for leaving fans Easter eggs to decode, some thought it was a deliberate move from the \u2018Midnights\u2019 singer, although it remains unclear why exactly his album materials were used.<\/p>\n

Oh look, there\u2019s my new album, that hasn\u2019t even been released yet, shredded as packaging paper in Taylor Swift merch. Ain\u2019t that some shit. pic.twitter.com\/77KhZ1ziI2<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Aaron Lewis (@Aaronlewismusic) June 25, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

His record is being released through Big Machine Label Group, which is Swift\u2019s former label, while the merchandise is being handled by Universal Music Group.<\/p>\n

Lewis \u2013 who started out in alt rock outfit Staind but has since become more well known for his pro-Trump, politically conservative country tracks \u2013 has since spoken to USA Today about the situation.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t have any social media. I didn\u2019t have it when I was younger. It\u2019s never felt important to me,\u201d he told the publication. \u201cI never even had a MySpace. So I don\u2019t see anything of that type of stuff. And when this was brought to me, I was just like, \u2018What is going on? This is just weird.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Lewis went on to say he was not happy about the mix-up. \u201cThat\u2019s the cover to my brand new record that hasn\u2019t even been put out yet. As artists, we put our trust in the distribution companies to get our material way up front and trust that they\u2019ll be responsible with what it is that we give them.\u201d<\/p>\n

He added that he is not blaming Swift for the incident, saying: \u201cWe live in two very, very different worlds. And she\u2019s such a huge star that her world doesn\u2019t intertwine with anyone\u2019s worlds. I certainly wouldn\u2019t be trying to bring her into this or blame her for anything. It just so happens that it was my record cover in her gift box for her fans.\u201d<\/p>\n

@taylorswift13<\/a> and I are 13 twins\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/uVieknmRMR<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Aaron Lewis (@Aaronlewismusic) September 18, 2016<\/a><\/p>\n

As noted by Stereogum<\/a>, Swift was once pictured alongside Lewis at Nashville\u2019s Music City & Wine Festival, pointing out his 13 neck tattoo, which is famously her lucky number.<\/p>\n

That being said, it\u2019s looking unlikely that he\u2019ll be invited to her wedding. Over the weekend, however, reports emerged claiming that her longtime friend Stevie Nicks is rumoured to be performing<\/a>.<\/p>\n