Taylor Swift merch controversy erupts after a singer claims unreleased album used as packaging paper

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Aaron Lewis has expressed his shock after finding that pages from his upcoming album cover were shredded and used as packing material for Taylor Swift’s merch.

The 54-year-old musician, however, did not blame the pop icon for the mishap.

Aaron Lewis reacts to Taylor Swift merch mix-up

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Lewis wrote, “Oh look, there’s my new album, that hasn’t even been released yet, shredded as packaging paper in Taylor Swift merch. Ain’t that some s***.”

He was reacting to a fan’s unboxing video, which showed her checking the packing material of ‘I Knew It, I Knew You’ CD collection in a confused state as she found the cover of Lewis’ unreleased record ‘Give Me Back My Country’ — scheduled for release on July 17 by Big Machine Label Group, which is also Swift's former label.

Aaron Lewis calls the mix-up 'weird'

Lewis reportedly got to know about the mix-up from his team. He told USA Today, “I don't have any social media. I didn't have it when I was younger. It's never felt important to me.”

“I never even had a MySpace. So I don't see anything of that type of stuff. And when this was brought to me, I was just like, 'What is going on? This is just weird,’” he added. 

Expressing his frustration further, he noted, “As artists, we put our trust in the distribution companies to get our material way up front and trust that they'll be responsible with what it is that we give them,” before stating, “I hate to think it's malicious, but at the same time, I don't know that it's not.”

Aaron Lewis says he won't blame Taylor Swift for anything

The 'Country Boy' singer also asserted that his album is yet to be released and it was not like some “old stuff that was just sitting around that they decided to make packing material out of. It's my new record. I just don't understand how something like that can happen.”

Lewis, however, does not think it’s Swift’s fault. The two artists met years ago when both of them were associated with Big Machine.

“We live in two very, very different worlds. And she's such a huge star that her world doesn't intertwine with anyone's worlds,” he shared, before adding, “I certainly wouldn't 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.”

Lewis also insisted that he’s not trying to promote his new album amid the controversy. “I don't understand how a shredded-up copy of my new record's art ended up in a Taylor Swift gift box for her fans,” he added.