Shredded Aaron Lewis Album Booklet Found in Taylor Swift Fan’s Merch Order

A Taylor Swift fan unpacking Toy Story 5 merchandise earlier this week got more than recycled paper filler. Mixed into the package was a shredded image of a bearded man, later identified as the full CD booklet for Aaron Lewis’ forthcoming country album, Give My Country Back. The album, scheduled for a July 17 release via UMG, hasn’t been officially issued yet, making the discovery something between an accidental leak and a pointed gesture from a warehouse worker.

Lewis, the founding frontman of alt-metal band Staind, has pivoted hard into solo country music and open support for Donald Trump. Give My Country Back, with its title track already out as a single, leans into that persona. The fan captured the shredded booklet on video, joking over the clip while Staind’s 2001 hit “It’s Been Awhile” played in the background. “Well, you should say you’re sorry again if this is a MAGA song,” she says, as audible “ews” punctuate her scroll through the politically charged packaging.

Lewis later responded on social media: “Oh look, there’s my new album, that hasn’t even been released yet, shredded as packaging paper in Taylor Swift merch. Ain’t that some shit.” The irony is heavy: Swift was once photographed admiring Lewis’ 13 neck tattoo at Nashville’s Music City & Wine Festival a decade ago. That brief moment of mutual recognition now feels distant. UMG, which distributes both artists, has not commented publicly on how unreleased materials ended up as filler in another artist’s shipment.