By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, October 25, updated -- More than a month ago, following reports that musician Taylor Swift would “launch her album 'Speak Now' at the UN on October 25,” Inner City Press asked the UN how and why its premises were being used to promote a commercial venture.
Was Ms. Swift being named a Goodwill Ambassador or pledging proceeds to some peacekeeping mission?
The UN responded the next day that “In response to a question asked on Thursday about the singer Taylor Swift, the Spokesperson said that Ms. Swift's album launch has been booked at the Delegates Dining Room as an external event. There is no UN office involved in this event. The Delegates Dining Room is a commercial space managed by Aramark and available for bookings.”
Inner City Press covered the issue on October 1 and again on October 18, asking how the UN could retain no right to review to whom Aramark rents the UN's building, and what claims can be made.
Now on October 25, Inner City Press has been informed that the Taylor Swift event in the UN Delegates' Dining Room has been canceled. Several DDR sources told Inner City Press that it was canceled since you wrote about it, Aramark is angry at all the money it is losing.
More than one UN official has approached Inner City Press saying congratulations for questioning the use of UN space and name for profit.
But more formally the UN has maintained that it has no role in Aramark's renting out of the space. And another UN source says that VH-1 “didn't like how the UN Delegates' Dining Room looked” and canceled, that it has nothing to do with the UN having scruples. In fact, some reports have Taylor Swift still launching the album "on the steps of the UN" (unclear which steps). We'll see - watch this site.
Update - hours after deadline, and two hours after the event was supposed to begin, this was received:
Subject: Your question on Taylor Swift
From: UN Spokesperson Do Not Reply
To: Matthew.Lee [at] innercitypress.com
Date: Mon, Oct 25, 2010 at 9:08 PM
We can confirm that Taylor Swift had at one point reserved the Delegates Dining Room for a record launch event, but that she later cancelled that booking and decided to use a venue outside the UN for that launch. For further details, please contact Aramark.
