In 2018, Taylor Swift found herself entangled in the tumultuous and escalating delusions of a troubled individual. After Big Machine Label Group, Swift's former record label, disclosed receiving numerous letters brimming with violent and unstable demands addressed to the musician, Eric Swarbrick, the 26-year-old author of these missives, admitted guilt to stalking and sending menacing communications. Now, his brother, Matthew Swarbrick, has stepped forward to unravel the disturbing layers of his sibling's criminal escapades in the latest episode of Investigation Discovery's docuseries "Hollywood Demons," titled "Stalking the Stars," premiering on April 28.
Matthew shares, "My brother was convinced that Taylor Swift was his soulmate, and it spiraled out of control. He penned 40 letters to Taylor Swift in 2018. The initial one wasn't threatening, just bizarre." However, as days turned into months, Eric's letters transformed into increasingly bizarre, sexually charged, and violent missives. "Within just a few months," Matthew notes solemnly, "one letter eerily stated, 'I'll have one goal in mind: to push Taylor to kill herself for knowingly abandoning me to my mother.'" Entertainment Weekly has reached out to Swift's representative for comment.
Reflecting on their upbringing, Matthew remembers, "Eric spent ample time with friends growing up." In high school, Eric was described as "popular, a worship leader, a guitar player, and very extroverted. I didn't foresee any warning signs in Eric. There were no red flags."
But as Eric embarked on his college journey, things began to change. Matthew explains, "He didn't know many people there. I think he started spending more time alone. The isolation eventually took a toll on him." Upon graduating, Matthew recalls a series of tweets sent by Eric that "[referenced] a soulmate, not naming anyone in particular, but they were far from ordinary. They hinted at being a prophet of God and being on the brink of becoming the Antichrist. I felt desperate because we knew he needed help, yet we were clueless about how to assist him."
Eric's initial missives to Big Machine CEO Scott Borchetta, filled with earnest pleas, urged the executive to facilitate a meeting between him and the singer of "Cruel Summer." He claimed to have once wandered aimlessly through the label's Nashville office. As time went on, Eric's words grew increasingly aggressive, culminating in threats that necessitated police intervention. "I won't falter in eliminating her, and neither you, your lawyers, nor the law can stop me. Remember my identity," read one chilling letter. Another declared, "I desire to rape Taylor Swift. This is my reason for hating her... This is how I know I'm Taylor's true love."
Determined to ensure his messages were received, Eric personally delivered the letters to Big Machine's office, elevating his actions to a federal offense. He was first apprehended in August 2018 after attempting to infiltrate Big Machine's headquarters but was swiftly released. Following a third letter in September, Eric was once again arrested by national police in Travis County, Texas, and charged with interstate stalking and transmitting interstate threats.
In 2019, Eric pled guilty to the charges, and a year later, a federal judge sentenced Eric Swarbrick to 30 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. His brother Matthew, unaware of the extent of Eric's actions, revealed, "I had no idea he'd been visiting her office or written 40 letters." Reflecting on his brother's deeds, Matthew said, "It was heartbreaking and demoralizing. Some individuals require punishment, while others need treatment. I wish he'd been admitted to a mental health facility sooner."
Upon Eric's release, Matthew noted that his brother began seeing a psychiatrist and gradually resumed his old personality in many ways. He described Eric as "very playful and engaging" with his children.
While law enforcement effectively neutralized this particular threat before it turned catastrophic, Taylor Swift's nightmare of alleged stalking incidents persists. In 2019, David Liddle was arrested near Swift's Rhode Island residence with a bag containing a crowbar, aluminum baseball bat, lock picks, and rubber gloves. The same year, Roger Alvarado was apprehended after attempting to break into Swift's Manhattan home for a third time. In 2022, Joshua Christian, a Brooklyn resident, was charged with criminal trespassing and stalking Swift. Last year alone, two more men were arrested on suspicion of stalking her.
"When stalkers repeatedly try to break into your home, you instinctively prepare for the worst," Swift told Elle in 2019. "Every day, I strive to focus on the goodness in the world, the love I've seen, and my faith in humanity. We must live courageously to truly feel alive, which means not letting our deepest fears dictate our lives."
"Stalking the Stars," the final episode of Investigation Discovery's new series Hollywood Demons, premieres Monday at 9 p.m. ET/PT on ID and streams on Max.
