Taylor Swift’s disturbing history with obsessive stalkers is being revisited in the final episode of Hollywood Demons, titled Stalking the Stars, airing April 28 on Investigation Discovery (ID).
The episode spotlights Eric Swarbrick, who was sentenced to 30 months in prison after sending over 40 violent letters to Swift’s former label, Big Machine Records. In a rare interview, Eric’s brother, Matthew Swarbrick, opens up about the terrifying situation, revealing Eric’s dangerous delusions and obsession with the global pop icon.
“My brother believed Taylor Swift was his soulmate, and it got out of hand,” Matthew says in the doc, as reported by Entertainment Weekly. While the initial letters were bizarre but not threatening, the tone quickly darkened. In one chilling note, Eric wrote, “I’ll have one goal in mind, to push Taylor to kill herself for knowingly abandoning me.” Another read, “I want to rape Taylor Swift… This is how I know I am Taylor’s soulmate.”
Eric was eventually arrested after delivering the letters in person to Big Machine’s Nashville office. He later pleaded guilty to interstate stalking in 2019.
Matthew recalls that Eric’s mental health started declining during college, leading to increased isolation. “Some of the isolation eventually got to him,” he explained. Now, Eric is receiving psychiatric help and has shown signs of improvement.
Taylor Swift, who has spoken publicly about the dangers she faces from stalkers, told Elle in 2019, “You get enough stalkers trying to break into your house and you kind of start prepping for bad things.”
The docuseries sheds light on the dark side of fame, reminding fans that while Swift’s career continues to skyrocket, her personal safety remains a serious concern.
