i won't back down

Tom Petty Super-Chill About Sam Smith Song Settlement

CLARKSTON, MI - AUGUST 24: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers perform at DTE Energy Music Theater on August 24, 2014 in Clarkston, Michigan. (Photo by Scott Legato/Getty Images)
Tom Petty. Photo: Scott Legato/Getty

Tom Petty is tooootally cool with Sam Smith ripping off his song “I Won’t Back Down.” Not only did they settle the entire thing out of court, apparently everyone was totally civil and everything’s really cool now. Petty even released a statement that wasn’t one bit … petty: 

About the Sam Smith thing. Let me say I have never had any hard feelings toward Sam. All my years of songwriting have shown me these things can happen.  Most times you catch it before it gets out the studio door but in this case it got by. Sam’s people were very understanding of our predicament and we easily came to an agreement. The word lawsuit was never even said and was never my intention. And no more was to be said about it. How it got out to the press is beyond Sam or myself. Sam did the right thing and I have thought no more about this. A musical accident no more no less. In these times we live in this is hardly news. I wish Sam all the best for his ongoing career. Peace and love to all.

Tom Petty Super-Chill About Sam Smith Settlement