Taylor Swift Says She Didn’t Know Who 3LW Was Prior to Being Sued Over “Players Gonna Play” Lyric in ‘Shake It Off’

As her lawsuit over copying a 3LW song drags on, Taylor Swift insists she’d never heard of the group before the complaint was filed.

The suit was initially filed in 2017 by writers of the 2001 record, “Playas Gon’ Play.” According to Sean Hall and Nathan Butler, Swift’s 2014 hit single “Shake It Off” illegally samples the 3LW track. In “Playas Gon’ Play,” 3LW sings, “playas, they gonna play and haters, they gonna hate.” On Swift’s track, she sings, “Cause the players gonna play, play, play, play, play and the haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate.”

According to newly filed court documents, Swift insisted that “Shake It Off” was written by her without any inspiration from 3LW, whom she states she didn’t know existed at the time. Instead, Swift says she heard the phrase in “many songs, films, and other works.” She even recalled seeing it printed on a shirt in Urban Outfitters.

“Playas Gon’ Play” peaked at No. 81 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2001. “Shake it Off,” on the other hand, achieved massive success, spending 50 weeks on the Billboard 100, with four weeks at number one. The single has since been diamond certified.

A judge originally dismissed the lawsuit in 2018. However, an appeal determined that the case would require a jury trial, which will be scheduled at a later date.

3LW has not publicly commented on the lawsuit.