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Cape Town – Outspoken actress and Good Place star Jameela Jamil introduced Billboard's first-ever Woman of the Decade honouree, Taylor Swift.
Taylor then handed her award back to Jameela and asked her to hold it as the Lover singer gave a speech that was filled with candour about her sometimes-rough ride in the music industry over the past ten years.
The 30-year-old used the moment to speak about her adoration for Lana Del Rey calling her the "most influential artist in pop" and once again called out Scooter Braun by name for buying her music against her wishes.
This speech took place at the Billboard Women in Music event which also honoured Billie Eilish and more.
READ NEXT: Unpacking the Taylor Swift and Scooter Braun drama.
Earlier this year Taylor released her new album, Lover and it became the top-selling record of the year after just two days.
At the award show, about her journey in the music industry, she said: "I saw that as a female in this industry, some people will always have the slightest reservations about you."
She went on: "Whether a male producer or co-writer was the reason for your success, or whether it was a savvy record label [responsible for your success]. It wasn't."
The songwriter said defiantly: "People want to explain away a woman's success in this industry."
Taylor also delivered this acutely accurate critique: "Have you ever heard someone say about a male artist, 'I really like his songs, but there's something about him I don't like'? No, that criticism is reserved for us."
"It comes down to this: Who lets that scrutiny break them and who keeps making great art?" she asked.
"I've watched as one of my favourite artists of the decade, Lana Del Rey, was ruthlessly criticised early in her career, and then slowly but surely she turned into, in my opinion, the most influential artist in pop. Her vocal stylings, her lyrics, her aesthetics, they've been repurposed everywhere in music. And this year, her incredible album is nominated for album of the year at the Grammys."
About the recent drama around her music ownership, Taylor said: "Scooter [Braun] never contacted me or my team to discuss it prior to the sale."
WATCH THE FULL AWARD SHOW HERE:
Compiled by Alex Isaacs (Sources: Billboard, Channel24)
(Photo: Getty Images)
