Trending badgeTrendingPosted 1 hour agoSubscribe to Taylor Swift NewsletterCaret DownPeople Think That Taylor Swift's Jeering Diss Track "Actually Romantic" Is About Charli XCX. Here's Everything There Is To Know.
The song comes just over a year after Taylor sang Charli's praises, which is confusing, to say the least.by Stephanie SoteriouBuzzFeed StaffFacebookPinterestLinkHot Topic🔥 Full coverage and conversation on Taylor Swift People think that Taylor Swift has lashed out at Charli XCX in a jeering diss track on her new album, The Life of a Showgirl, and it's low-key kind of messy. Kevin Winter / Getty Images For reference, fans have pitted the two women against each other ever since Charli supported Taylor on her Reputation tour in 2018. In an interview with Pitchfork, Charli sparked backlash when she said of the gig: "I'm really grateful that Taylor asked me on that tour, but as an artist, it kind of felt like I was getting up on stage and waving to 5-year-olds." Matt Winkelmeyer / Getty Images The British singer later clarified that her comment had been taken out of context, saying on social media that she simply meant she was used to performing 18+ club shows, and that the younger audience had a different energy. Charli also said she had "no shade and only love" toward Taylor, adding: "She's one of the biggest artists of my generation and the Reputation tour was one of the biggest tours in history." Don Arnold / Getty Images However, the situation came back to the forefront last year with the release of Charli's hit album Brat. At the time, many interpreted her song "Sympathy Is a Knife" to be about Taylor, with it coming after Taylor's brief romance with Matty Healy, who is bandmates with Charli's now-husband, George Daniel. Robert Kamau / Getty Images The song is basically about another woman making Charli feel insecure, with the star singing: "I don't wanna share this space / I don't wanna force a smile / This one girl taps my insecurities.""George says, 'I'm just paranoid,'" the song goes on. "I couldn't even be her if I tried / I'm opposite, I'm on the other side / I feel all these feelings I can't control." BuzzFeed TrendingHot TopicThink you're Blondie's biggest fan? Put your ~reputation~ to the test.
See our Taylor Swift Discussions "Don't wanna see her backstage at my boyfriend's show," it continues. "Fingers crossed behind my back, I hope they break up quick." AZLyrics / Via azlyrics.com In an interview with New York magazine's Vulture, Charli said: "People are gonna think what they want to think" when asked about the speculation it was inspired by Taylor, but reiterated that the song is about her personal insecurities above all else. She explained: "That song is about me and my feelings and my anxiety and the way my brain creates narratives and stories in my head when I feel insecure." Pascal Le Segretain / Getty Images It's also worth noting that when Charli's fans started a disturbing chant against Taylor at a live show, Charli made it clear that she did not condone the behavior. She posted on her Instagram story at the time: "can the people who do this please stop. online or at my shows. it is the opposite of what i want and it disturbs me that anyone would think there is room for this in this community. i will not tolerate it." Instagram @charli_xcx / Via Instagram: @charli_xcx And there didn't appear to be any bad blood from Taylor's side either, with the star singing Charli's praises in the Vulture piece that was published in August 2024. She told the publication at the time: "I've been blown away by Charli's melodic sensibilities since I first heard 'Stay Away' in 2011. Her writing is surreal and inventive, always. She just takes a song to places you wouldn't expect it to go, and she's been doing it consistently for over a decade. I love to see hard work like that pay off." Cbs Photo Archive / Getty Images Taylor even looked like a Charli super fan when she was filmed enthusiastically dancing during the singer's performance at this year's Grammys back in February, which was just eight months ago. Cbs Photo Archive / Getty Images There have not been any further developments between Taylor and Charli since this display of camaraderie - at least, not publicly - and that is why many have been left confused by "Actually Romantic" on Taylor's latest album appearing to be about Charli. Brooke Sutton / Getty Images It opens with the lyrics: "I heard you call me 'Boring Barbie' when the coke's got you brave / High-fived my ex and then you said you're glad he ghosted me / Wrote me a song saying it makes you sick to see my face." Dave Benett / Getty Images At this point, it should be mentioned that Taylor suggested that Matty ghosted her on her 2024 album The Tortured Poets Department, which suggests that the ex mentioned is indeed her and Charli's mutual connection. In the song's chorus, Taylor teases that she finds the subject's fixation on her "sweet" and "actually romantic," she sings: "I rea