Smashed Taylor Swift guitar in viral video sells for over $6,000

A signed Taylor Swift guitar that was the subject of a recent viral video sold on eBay this week for over $6,000 . But while the item comes with a Swift signature, its authenticity remains in question.

On Sept. 28, a Texas man named Gary Estes bid $4,000 to win the guitar during a charity fundraising event for the nonprofit Ellis County Wildgame Dinner. Video posted online showed Estes taking a hammer to the guitar after walking up to receive it.

One version of the clip of Estes smashing the guitar has been viewed over 23 million times.

Although reports suggested Estes acted out due to Swift’s endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris for U.S. president, he later told TMZ he did not mean any malice by it. Estes said he was handed the hammer when he walked up to get the guitar at the event.

After the video went viral, Estes returned the guitar to the nonprofit, which helps raise money for kids to participate in agricultural educational programs. The nonprofit put the guitar on eBay, labeling it as the “Taylor Swift signed acoustic guitar” as seen “smashed in the viral video.”

But questions began to surface of the guitar’s true origins and if it had been signed by Taylor Swift after all.  A source close to Swift’s merchandise company confirmed to Variety the guitar was not a certified official guitar used by the singer.

Variety reported the guitar came with a signed CD insert, but the guitar itself was not signed. E stes told TMZ the guitar was not signed by Swift, but there was another item attached to it with the music superstar’s signature.

Estes said it also came with a certificate of authenticity. However, TMZ points out there is no seal on the certificate which is typically found on these types of documents.

According to the eBay listing, the signature was made on an album cover, cut into the shape of a pickguard and then added to the guitar. Despite the controversies and questions, the guitar sold for $6,550 on eBay on Tuesday, Oct. 8, with the money going to charity.

The post Smashed Taylor Swift guitar in viral video sells for over $6,000 appeared first on Straight Arrow News .