Kim Kardashian released an audio excerpt from a phone call between Kanye and Taylor Swift over the lyrics of 'Famous' - but if it was recorded without Swift's consent, Kanye may have broken California state law.
In the midst of the on-going fallout between Taylor Swift and Kimye over ‘Famous’, legal experts claim that Kanye could face a civil lawsuit in California if it turns out he secretly recorded the phone call that Kim released at the weekend.
35 year old Kim triggered a social media furore after she published an audio clip of her husband’s phone call with Swift in which they discussed the rapper’s song and the lyrics therein, which included a line about her. In the controversial track, Kanye raps: “I feel like me and Taylor might still have sex / Why? I made that b**** famous.”
Kanye West's feud with Taylor Swift has deepened ever further over the last few days
When it was released back in February on his latest album The Life of Pablo, Kanye faced scrutiny for what many saw as the misogyny in the lyrics. He defended it at the time on Twitter, saying: “I called Taylor and had a hour long convo with her about the line and she thought it was funny and gave her blessings.”
It would appear that it’s this conversation that Kim released a clip from, as she and her husband have begun attacking Swift by releasing excerpts of their talk. Kanye can be heard detailing only a fragment of the lyrics in question. “I really appreciate you telling me about it, that’s really nice,” the 26 year old hitmaker can be heard replying.
Swift has since responded via Twitter on Sunday (July 17th), saying that Kanye’s call was “secretly” recorded and that she never heard the “I made that b**** famous” part of the lyric – something that seems to be borne out by Kim’s clip.
“You don’t get to control someone’s emotional response to being called ‘that bitch’ in front of the entire world,” Swift argued in her statement.
That moment when Kanye West secretly records your phone call, then Kim posts it on the Internet. pic.twitter.com/4GJqdyykQu
— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) July 18, 2016
However, The Guardian has published an article examining the legal aspects of what seems to have happened – and claims that Kanye’s phone call could have been illegally recorded if it was made in California, as TMZ has already reported.
“California is an ‘all-party consent’ wiretapping state. What that means is, even on things like a conference call, before you record it, you’re supposed to announce to everyone, ‘I’m going to record this call,’” said Chris Hoofnagle, professor of law at the University of California and an expert on privacy.
“There’s civil and criminal liability,” he added. Though a criminal charge was extremely unlikely. Swift could claim extensive damages on reputational grounds, Hoofnagle believes.
More: Did things start to go wrong between Calvin Harris and Taylor Swift as far back as February?
Though Derek and Hansel have left the world of fashion modelling behind them, a part...
This blending of the stoner bromance with the Christmas comedy works surprisingly well, layering gross-out...
Derek, Hansel and some other familiar faces are back in Zoolander 2! After offering their...
Ever since Chris, Ethan and Isaac were young, the trio of friends have always spent...
After a disastrous return to the fashion industry following his retirement, which almost ended in...
Made in America Festival is an annual music event founded by rapper and businessman Jay-Z...
DJ Peanut Butter Wolf set up independent LA label Stones Throw Records in 1996 and...
The legend of San Diego's Channel 4 news team may have long since dissolved over...
The news used to be a noble profession before the likes of Ron Burgundy with...
Ron Burgundy compares a Dodge Durango's horsepower to that of an actually horse before insulting...
Ron Burgundy, Brian Fantana, Brick Tamland and Champ Kind have now hit the eighties and...