• “Chandelier” singer Sia was criticized by Taylor Swift fans for supporting Scooter Braun, the controversial entertainment executive who now owns the rights to much of Swift’s music.
  • After Sia called Braun a “good kind man” and told him to “keep going,” Swift fans unearthed photos of Sia with black paint on her face, which many felt was a problematic display of blackface.
  • Fans of Swift, who’s currently feuding with Braun, also said the Australian singer was canceled and calling her “a disappointment” for her support of Braun.
  • The Australian singer subsequently defended herself on social media, saying the paint was just the result of her trying to paint herself into a black backdrop at an early show.
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Sia has taken to Twitter to defend herself after Taylor Swift fans, who are angry at Sia’s support of controversial entertainment executive Scooter Braun, called out the Australian singer for wearing what they felt was blackface.

Swift fans quickly unearthed a photo of what appears to be Sia with black paint on her face – and immediately denounced the singer as a “racist,” saying the face paint was akin to blackface.

https://twitter.com/nicktendoswift/status/1145887979191320576?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfwhttps://twitter.com/LPumhu/status/1146366225196441602?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfwhttps://twitter.com/mjchproject/status/1146278556508545024?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Shortly after Swift fans began accusing her of wearing blackface, Sia defended herself on Twitter, saying the blackface paint was a “precursor” to her now-iconic wigs, and said she only painted herself black to blend in with a dark backdrop that was part of her costume.

https://twitter.com/Sia/status/1145930737708781568?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Despite Sia's response, the question of whether or not she knowingly wore blackface still polarized a lot of users.

https://twitter.com/L0m41/status/1146404909329375233?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfwhttps://twitter.com/chucktinglevevo/status/1146304788562436097?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Many fans felt that regardless of intentions, wearing blackface paint was still offensive.

https://twitter.com/JerryT0ThisTay/status/1145948971300507648?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfwhttps://twitter.com/hellocarolina_/status/1146388783748833280?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

https://twitter.com/soitgoessss/status/1146016311690051589?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

The blackface accusations arrived amid other criticism of Sia's support of Braun in his current feud with Swift. On Monday, the Australian singer tweeted her support of Braun, calling him a "good kind man" and urging him to "keep going" despite his escalating, very public feud with the pop star.

https://twitter.com/Sia/status/1145878680477954048?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Immediately after, Taylor Swift fans flooded Sia's mentions, saying that the singer is canceled and calling her "disappointing."

Fans also highlighted Sia's own background as a songwriter, suggesting that her support of Braun was inappropriate.

https://twitter.com/nat1989swift/status/1145879898843750400?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Sia is the latest celebrity to weigh in on the feud between Braun and Swift. Stars like Justin Bieber and Demi Lovato have publicly defended Braun, whereas Brendan Urie, Todrick Hall, and Halsey are some of the celebrities standing by Swift.

Read more: All the celebrities clashing over the drama between Taylor Swift and Scooter Braun

Swift and Braun's feud has grown increasingly vitriolic in the last few days.

When Braun acquired Big Machine Records (the label Swift was signed to for most of her career) earlier this month, he also acquired the rights to Swift's entire catalogue. Swift shared in a Tumblr post on June 30 that she was "sad and grossed out" by the turn of events.

After current Big Machine head Scott Borchetta said that Swift had the chance to buy back her masters, Swift's attorney released a statement Tuesday saying that wasn't the case.

"Scott Borchetta never gave Taylor Swift an opportunity to purchase her masters, or the label, outright with a check in the way he is now apparently doing for others," her lawyer said.