"They're getting a fat cheque": Internet reacts as George Michael estate endorses Taylor Swift's use of 'Father Figure' in new album

Taylor Swift's new album, The Life of a Showgirl, was officially released on Friday, October 3, 2025.

The 12-track record features a song titled Father Figure. It borrows from George Michael's 1987 hit of the same name. The late singer's estate has now officially endorsed Taylor Swift's version.

George Michael's representatives described the collaboration as a "special moment" that aligns two very different generations of pop music. The estate's approval has turned into one of the most discussed aspects of Taylor Swift's new era. Fans have reacted, saying:

"They are getting a fat cheque so of course they are delighted"

jack

@livnerys

they’re getting a fat cheque so of course they’re delighted

Internet reactions to George Michael's estate endorsing Taylor Swift's use of Father Figure in The Life of a Showgirl

Through an official Instagram post, George Michael Entertainment, the company overseeing his estate, confirmed Taylor Swift's interpolation had their complete support. They stated:

"We were delighted when Taylor Swift and her team approached us earlier this year about incorporating an interpolation of George Michael’s classic song ‘Father Figure’ into a brand new song of the same title to be featured on her forthcoming album."

They added:

"When we heard the track, we had no hesitation in agreeing to this association between two great artists and we know George would have felt the same. George Michael Entertainment wishes Taylor every success with ‘The Life of a Showgirl’ and ‘Father Figure.'"

Fans took to social media platforms, including X (formerly Twitter), to share their views on the matter. Below are some of their reactions:

"Of course George Michael’s estate was “delighted”, Taylor could sample someone humming in a shower and estates would sprint to approve. Still, bold move touching a classic like Father Figure… fans will either call it genius or blasphemy. 🎶👀", declared an X user.

"The only thing I want to highlight is that this is going to introduce George Michael to a lot of younger folks who could benefit from learning this bit of music history. There is a lot of misuse of sampling recently but I actually appreciate this.", noted another.

"That’s a big endorsement, shows respect from George Michael’s estate and makes Taylor’s track even more special. Do you think the interpolation will bring a fresh vibe to the classic?", questioned a third.

Others also chimed in:

"no one will convince me that stan twitter discourse has any impact when we have this type of praise OH TAYLEGEND", hyped a fan.

"I really liked it because I did reminded me of George Michael and he was one of my influences as well. I'm the same age as Taylor so I figured that it resonated", praised another.

"They're really desperate for that check then because imagine praising a song attacking a younger female artist like Olivia who Taylor stole from", commented a third.

Notably, the estate's statement was also accompanied by a message thanking Taylor Swift for "including George in such a special moment."

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