Tony Khan accused of using musician’s song without permission surfaced after recent developments at All Elite Wrestling’s Beach Break Dynamite event, intensifying ongoing scrutiny around copyright and creative rights in AEW. The accusations stem from claims by Malover Troye, a musician who alleges his composition was utilized as Mina Shirakawa’s entrance theme without proper authorization, leading to significant public debate.
Accusations Arise After AEW Beach Break Dynamite
All Elite Wrestling, led by Tony Khan, frequently receives feedback from fans, wrestlers, and the broader entertainment industry. The most recent controversy centers on an incident during Beach Break Dynamite, where Mina Shirakawa made her return as a full-time performer. Shirakawa took part in an Eliminator match against Women’s World Champion Toni Storm, AZM, and Skye Blue, using what appeared to be a new entrance theme song for her walk to the ring. However, after her victory, she exited to her original entrance music, highlighting the abrupt change in production decisions.
Khan addressed this switch and acknowledged that the theme was altered mid-event in response to significant backlash from fans, underlining the importance of audience sentiment in AEW’s show production.
Malover Troye Publicly Calls Out AEW and Tony Khan
The dispute escalated after a mid-May post on social media by California-based musician Malover Troye regained attention. Troye, known in entertainment circles for his songwriting, directed a message to Tony Khan, explicitly outlining grievances related to the use of his work for Mina Shirakawa’s Beach Break entrance. Troye’s message described the events following Beach Break, asserting that a third party claimed ownership of the track by stripping his vocals and then pressuring him to relinquish his rights, all without his consent.
“@TonyKhan A song I Wrote was used as Mina Shirakawa’s AEW entrance theme (May 14th) without my permission. A 3rd party sold it to AEW after removing my vocals + pressuring me to sign away all rights. I refused it. It aired anyway. Please make this right!,”
—Malover Troye, singer-songwriter
Ongoing Uncertainty Surrounds Dispute
As of now, the exact resolution or progress regarding Malover Troye’s allegations against All Elite Wrestling remains unclear. The episode contributed to ongoing debates about copyright and proper contracts in wrestling entertainment. The backlash from fans over Shirakawa’s theme music change also prompted AEW’s Ricochet to make remarks directed at WWE fans, further stoking division among wrestling audiences. In the context of increasing scrutiny over creative ownership and entertainment industry practices, the outcome of this controversy could influence future AEW decisions around third-party music usage and production transparency.
